PR 4922 
.R5 
1875 
Copy 1 



PRICE 15 CENTS. 



DE WITT'S ACTING PLAYS. 

(Numbei- 38.) 



THE 




RIGHTFUL HEIR 



A DRAMA, IN FIVE ACTS. 



BY LORD LYTTOX. 

(SIR EDWARD LYTTON BU1WEK. ) 
Author of " Richilieu," '• Tlie Larh/ of Lynns." "Money," dsc., <l <-.. 



AS FIRST PERFORMED AT THE EYCEUM THEATRE, LONDON, 

UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF MR. E. T. SMITH, 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER, 3, 1S6H. 



TO WHICH AUK AI)I)J<:|> 

A description of the Costume — Cast of the Characters — Entrances and Exits 
Relative Positions of the Performers ou the Stage, and 
the whole of the Stage Business. 




Hito-ilofk : 

ROBERT M. DE WITT, PUBLISHER 
JVo. 33 Hose Street. 




( BLACK SHEEP. A Drama, in Three Acts. Founded on Edmund 
JVO W Yates' Novel of the same name. Price Fifteen Cents. 



VAVY. 1 A SILENT PROTECTOR AFarce.in 



*iEA 



Willi ims. Price Fi t ■ n r.'nts. 



One Act By Thomas. J . 



IDIE ^ATITT'S 



ETHIOPIA! Affl COMIC DRAMA, 

PRICfe, 15 CENTS EACH. 



The following list includes some of the most justly popular Ethi- 
opian Dramatic Sketches ever produced upon the boards. They 
are artistically constructed in plot — full of humorous incidents, and 
laughable situations — the characters are genuine darkeys, both in 
thought and expression. There is more first-rate fun in one page of 
these plays than a whole volume of most (so-called) funny books. 
They are admirably suited for private amateur performance. Every- 
thing is made as plain as possible, so that any of the pieces can be 
easily produced without the aid of a professional. 





No. 1 .— THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS. 

Ethiopian Sketch, by J. C. Stewart. 3 Male, 1 Female Character | 

No. 2.— TRICKS. 

Ethiopian Sketch, by J. C. Stewart. 5 Male, 2 Female Characters. J 

No. 3.— HEMMED IN. 

Ethiopian Sketch, by J. C. Stewart. 3 Male, 1 Female Character. 

No. 4.— EH ? WHAT IS IT. 

Ethiopian Sketch by J , C. Stewart. 4 Male, 1 Female Character. 

No. 5.— THE TWO BLACK ROSES. 

Ethiopian Sketch, by J. C. Stewart. 4 Male, 1 Female Character. 

No 6.— The Black Chap from Whitechapel. 

An Eccentric Negro Piece, by II. L. Williams, Jr., 4 Male Characters. 



TnESE Dramas are got up m the same unexceptionab^ stvle as 
"DE WITT'S ACTING- PLAYS," which has rendered that series the 
standard Green Room authority. Each Drama is very handsomely 
printed, and is sold at 15 Cents. 

Single copies sent to any address, postage paid, on receipt of retail 
price, 15 cents. Address 

ROBERT I. DE WITT, PnMisiier, 33 Rose si, N ) 



1 



THE RIGHTFUL HEIR. 



% grama, 
IN FIVE ACTS 



Suggested by M. Alex. Dumas' " Le Capitaine Paul " (Paul Jones, the Son of the 
* Sea), and re-written from the Author's " Sea Captain."] 



By LOKD LYTTON, 

(SIR EDWARD LYTTON BULWER.) 

uthor of " Richelieu," " Lady of Lyons," 1 " Money,'' etc., etc. 



AS FIRST PERFORMED AT THE LYCEUM THEATRE, LONDON, UN- 
DER THE MANAGEMENT OF MR. E. T. SMITH, 
SATURDAY, OCT. 3, 1868. 



TO WHICH IS ADDED 



A DESCRIPTION OF THE COSTUMES — CAST OP THE CHARACTERS — EN- 
TRANCES and exits — Relative positions op the per- 
formers ON THE STAGE, AND THE WHOLE 
OF THE STAGE BUSINESS. 






£<£££ 



NEW YORK : 

ROBERT HI. DE WITT. PUBLISHER, 

NO, 33 ROSE STREET. 

2' 






^^ 



TO ALL FRIENDS AND KINSFOLK 

is 

THE AMERICAN COMMONWEALTH, 

THIS DRAMA IS DEDICATED, 

WITH AFFECTION AND BESPECT. 
London, Sept. 28, 1868. 



PREFACE. 



Many years ago this Drama was re-written from an earlier play by the same Au- 
thor, called " The Sea Captain." the first idea of which was suggested by a striking 
situation in a novel by M. A. Dumas \Le Capitaine Paul). The Author withdrew 
11 The Sea Captain" from the stage (and even from printed publication), while it had 
not lost such degree of favor as the admirable acting of Mr. Macready chiefly con* 
tributed to obtain for it ■ intending to replace it before th^ public with some import- 
ant changes in the histrionic cast, and certain slight alterations in the conduct of 
the story. But the alterations once commenced, became so extensive in character, 
diction and even in revision of plot, that a new play gradually rose from the foun- 
dations of the old one. The task thus undertaken, being delayed by other demands 
upon time and thought, was scarcely completed when Mr. Macready's retirement 
from his profession suspended the Author's literary connection with the stage, and 
" The Bightful Heir " has remained in tranquil seclusion till this year, when he 
submits his appeal to the proper tribunal ; sure, that if he fail of a favorable hear- 
ing, it will not be the fault of the friends who take part in his cause and act in his 
behalf. 

London, Sept. 28, 1868. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS. 



Lyceum Theatre.. 
London, Oct. 3, 1868. 
Vyvyan (Captain of the Privateer Dreadnaught— Tragedy 

Lead) Mr. Bandmann. 

Sir Grey de Malpas (the Poor Cousin— Tragedy Lead) Mr. Hermann Vezin. 

Wrecklyffe (a Gentleman turned Pirate— Heavy) Mr. Lawlor. 

Lord Beaufort (Lady Montreville's son— Walking Gentleman Mr. Neville. 
Falkner, ) j Mr. Lin Bayne. 

Harding, I ( Vy vyan's Lieutenants-J uvenile Bus.) \ Mr AsDEKS0N# 

Marsden (Seneschal -Old Man) Mr. David Evans. 

Alton (Village Priest— 1st Old Man) Mr. Basil Pottek. 

Sub-Officer of the Dreadnaught (Utility) Mr. Everard. 

Servant to Lady Montreville (Utility) Mr. W. Temfleton. 

Lady Montreville (a Countess— Tragedy Lead) Mrs. Hermann Vezin. 

Eveline (her Ward— Juvenile Tragedy or Walking Lady) . . . .Miss Milly Palmer. 

2 



in _ o/ 



/// /5 



SCENERY. 



SCENERY. 

ACT I.— Scene.— Castle ruins in 4th grooves. 



Tree. .* 



Wall. 




On flat, view of the sea ; l. side, cliffs and castle ; set wall, ruined, 10 to 12 feet 
high, along 3d grooves and l. 1 and 2 e.; open archway l. 1 e. set ; low set wall r. 2 E.; 
a heap of set stones up c, to aid effect of picture ; a set tree up k. c. ; sky sinks and 
borders ; curtain for covering the change of scene : dark velvet, heavily fringed and 
bordered deeply with gold, in two parts, to draw up and to each side ; with coat of 
arms, royal English white lion and red griffin guarding shield and crown, in tapes- 
try ; over date in old English, 1588. 

Scene II.— Castle gardens in 5th grooves. 



c : 



Sea. 



D Lime- 
« light. 



: []F 



Platform. : 



F [] . 
Archway. 



Steps. 



: * Seat. 
E : 



F [] 2 



On flat foreground, dark blue sea, blending with the canvas down in u. E. ; uppei 
two- thirds light ; bright sky ; l. side, d., set wall of castle in u. E. ; 3 e., set wall 
with open archway ; 1st and 2d grooves wings, walls ; all this side is dark ; r. side. 



4 SCEXEIIY. 

c., set wall continuing the castle, supposed to be off e. 1 and 2 e.'s ; the set end with 
a cliff, running down into the sea ; u. 2 and 3 e., set platform, reached by broad steps, 
six feet above stage level ; A, a box, with large box-wood tree, trimmed into fantas- 
tic shape in the fashion of the Elizabethan age ; b. 2 groove wing, tree, run in to 
mask end of platform ; B., a fountain, playing in an oval basin; in front of the 
basin a half-ring of canvas down, covered with flowers and moss; E E, two can- 
vases, covered with flowers, for flower-beds ; a garden seat to r. 1 ; F, F, F, F, stat- 
ues, three-quarter life size ; the upper pair kneeling satyrs, the front pair nymphs 
erect; limelight l. u. e., lighting up k. side. 

ACT II. — Scene I.— Interior, in 1st grooves; Gothic architecture; e. on f., wide 
hearth, with earl's coronet and shield on the keystone ; e. on F., portrait of man, 
half length, to resemble the personator of Vyvyan in face ; the painting on flat 
makes the stage seem to be part of the chamber thereon represented ; open e. and 
L. ; table and three chairs on at c, table has blue cloth, corded with gold and 
trimmed with red fringe ; chairs have an old English M, surmounted by a coronet, 
in dead gold, on the back, inside. 

Scene II. — Court-yard and Castle. Exterior, in 5th grooves. 



-TV all. 



Trap 
open. 



Platform. 



Open. 



Tree 



[] c 



[] c 



Steps. 



Backing. 

Light 
1 Open | .... 
archway. 



Open. 



[] c 
Cresset or beacon-basket on wing. 



Sky on flat ; the lower two-thirds is hidden by the set walls e. in 4th grooves, and 
in 3d grooves, c. to l. ; l. side, 3 e., backing of wall, to large open archway in 3 g. 
set 1 and 2 e. closed in; small open archway in l. 1 e. set; dark, except l. 3 e., 
■where there is a light ; e. side 3 and 4 e., castle wall, ending in cliff over the sea ; open 
trap, for the ditch, between platform (ten feet above stage level) and set wall ; steps 
to platform 2 e. ; wings are walls ; sky sinks and borders ; C, C, C, C, cannon on 
block carriages, the front pair pointed at each other, the upper pair pointed front ; 
tree up e. of c, reaches to top of walls. 

ACT III.— Scene I.— Rocky landscape, sea and cliff, in 2d grooves; flat to roll up ; 
view of sea, l. side ; cliff running out over the water; all of 2 e. to sink and carry j 
down the set rocks built up on it ; along 1st grooves, low flat of rocks, to sink ; sky I 
sink and borders ; trees and rocks for wings ; sunset effect by limelight, l. v. e. 

Scene TL— Same as Act II., Scene II. ; sunset effect l. v. e. ; stage dark. 

ACT IV.— Scene I.— Same as Act II., Scene I. ; table and chairs not on ; a chair j 
and a settee l. 



SCENERY. 



Scene II.— Cliff and Sea, in 4th grooves. 



Moon. 



20 ft. Platform. : 

b A 

Steps. : 

15 ft. Platform. : 



Open. 



Profile Rocks. 



Platform, 3 feet above | B | 
stage level. * ' 




Limelight for moonlight, l. v. e. ; sea on fiat, -with full moon at c. ; the wing run 
in on 4th groove, n., is a profile edge of cliff; by having a piece stand out half way 
up its height, the piece will seem to be the base of another cliff, still further out in 
the sea ; l. side, rocky cliff, covering in all ; 1 e., set steps, leading from off down 
upon stage ; sky wings, except L. 1 g. , which is rocks ; B. side, a series of rocks, 
forming steps and platforms ; all practicable ; A, a tree on the platform edge, joined 
to a piece facing the platform, so that, on Vyvyan seizing it, his weight brings it 
down, forces it to draw the piece joining it to L., and deposits him in open trap c, 
in 3 E. ; B, a trap-net used in this scene. 



Tree. 



A First movement ; tree describes segment of circle. 
w ,A 



B The weight brings the cliff-piece forward. 



Cliff- 
piece. 



Stage line. 




Second movement ; tree and cliff- 
piece drop Yxvyan into trap. 



1 rap. 



COSTUMES. 

is o£n ^ ME I -~ Same " ACt IV " &ene U - ; Tra » E I- ^ f- S-ne II 

» P^ twol:S!° r ' ta ISt8r ° 0TeSi d ^^-^™*^n s ;^ im . R . cA 

Scene III.— Hall in 5th grooves: closed in t> it>a T . 
weight of spectators; large !^'^££££Z?* f ^ .* *H 
opyover; royal arms behind chair ; table L. c ; arch h 3* ?.*t * , / Tnthcan ^ 
wall; stained glass window in flat. ' *' ' bann ^ts ^ung fronj 



COSTUMES (English, Elizabethan). 

Ytvy^.-AcI I. : Black hard felt hat, four or five inches bish in th» 

white ostrich feather; steel gorget, polishe^ T^^tT^C^^ 
six inches wide, fringed with gold at the end, f ol eft should, i * ^ 

tied behind, with loose ends ; buff leather jerkin, sle eve ess beH \ "f ■ *' 
rapier, black and steel sheath, cut steel Lit; doublet and lool ^ ,™ 5 
slate blue, striped up and down with black cord on ^ the doub e^T^i ° f 
ckevron on the breeches ; buff boots pulled up to above the knee ™ l ^ ^ 
of buff leather, hung on right side, with dagger under ls Wc'uTn f ^ 

eigh or Drake ^ 77- te j. r Gor „ et and jerkin r Zo, e a IncH It 

IV Same as last; hat, no sword. Act Y. : Half armor: helmet, with vizor 
to close ; white plume ; blue sash ; steel-plated gauntlets, right hand one o be 
thrown on stage ; high russet boots ; thigh armor in plates 
Obex be Itoii.-ft, made up for pale, cold, passionless expression prematurely 

WBEC^ppK.-Biack wig, tag loose hair; Moustache, with flowing ends . oMn 

mantle of dark glazed sea-green water-proof, worn careleasly over one a™ 
and about, he body; s!lort cutlass . brace of brass-moun.ed pisto stuckT 

G0Dr «a T velv:™„Vt U T; WW ' e -"- a — ••*•: black velvet skuii-eap; 
oreaSl ve*e;Ih„ I , , ' angmS *""• "^ •» *"* "*= -«* 

Far.KHBB.-Humedhat; haek and breast-plates • sword; high boots. 

of°h^ C el"' ,DnSE ' Wift VariaU ° n ta «*» ° f "fa doublet sleeves, of feather 

*™Z£2Z U * b<!ara ' TCWt0 " ig; dart C ° Wl Md '-S «"»• ^ * : Skull- 

Mir. SUEX .--Long white hair, white moustaehe and ehin beard- h=„a , a 

suit; doublet; trunk hose; velvet shoes slashed and „ ffa , handsome Iared 
with gilt eoronet on top. ' ^ PUffed ; Ion S w nite "»«. 

For Conclusion of costumes, etc, seepages. « and 48. 



THE RIGHTFUL' HEIR. 



ACT I. 

SCENE I. — Castle Ruins in Ath grooves. Music. 

Discover Sir Grey, digging, up C, throws down his spade and comes down 

Sir Grey. I cannot dig. Fie, what a helpless thing 
Is the white hand of well-born poverty ! 
And yet between this squalor and that pomp {looks up L.) 
Stand but two lives, a woman's and a boy's — 
But two frail lives. I may outlive them both. (r. c.) 

Enter Wrecklyffe, l. 1 e. 

"Wreck. Ay, that's the house — the same; the master changed, 

But less than I am. Winter creeps on him, 

Lightning hath stricken me. Good-day. 
Sir G. Pass on. 

No spendriffc hospitable fool spreads here 

The board for strangers. Pass. 
Wreck. Have years so dimmed 

Eyes once so keen, De Malpas 1 
Sir. G. (after a pause). Ha ! Thy hand. 

What brings thee hither 1 
Wreck. " Brings me 1 " say " hurled back." 

First, yellow pestilence, whose ghastly wings 

Guard, like the fabled griffin, India's gold ; 

Unequal battle next ; then wolfish famine ; 

And lastly storm (rough welcome to England) 

Swept decks from stern to stem ; to shore was flung 

A lonely pirate on a battered hulk ! 

One wreck rots stranded ; — you behold the other. 
Sir G. Penury hath still it's crust and roof-tree — share them. 

Time has dealt hardly with us both, since first 

We two made friendship — thou straight-limbed, well-favored, 

Stern-hearted, disinherited dare-devil. 

Wreck. And thou? 

Sir G. (smiles). A stroke paints me. My lord's poor cousin. 

How strong thou wert, yet I could twist and wind thee 

Round these slight hands ; that is the use of brains. 



g THE RIGHTFUL HE1E. 

Wreck. Still jokes and stings 1 

Sir. G. Still a poor cousin's weapons. 

Wreck. Boast brains, yet starve 1 

Sir G. Still a poor cousin's fate, sir. 

Pa;don my brains, since oft' thy boasts they pardoned ; 

(Sad change since then), when ruffle is aped thy swagger, 
• And village maidens sighed and, wondering, asked 

Why heaven made men so wicked — and so comely. 
AVreck. {gruffly). 'Sdeath ! Wilt thou cease 1 
Sir G. That scar upon thy 

Front bespeaks grim service. 
Wreck. In thy cause, De Malpas ; 

The boy, whom at thine instance I allured 

On board my bark, left me this brand of Cain. 

Sir G. That boy 

Wreck. Is now a man, (Sir Grey starts) and on these shores. 

This morn I peered from yonder rocks that hid me, 

And saw his face. I whetted then this steel : 

Need'st thou his death % In me behold Revenge! 
Sir G. He lives — he lives ! There is a third between 

The beggar and the earldom. 
Wreck, (looks r.). Steps and voices ; 

When shall we meet alone 7 Hush ! it is he. 
Sir G. He with he plume 1 
Wreck. Ay. 

Sir G. Quick ; within. 

Wreck. And thou { 

Sir G. I dig the earth ; see the grave-digger's tool, (goes up r. c.) 
[Exit Wreckylffe, d, m 3 g., set fat. 

'Enter Harding and Sailors, r. 1 e. 

Hard. Surely 'twas here the captain bade us meet him 

While he went forth for news 1 
First Sailor. He comes. 

Enter Vyvyan, r. 1 e. 

Hard. Well, captain. 

, What tidings of the Spaniard's armament 1 

Vyv. Bad, fo- they say the fighting is put off, 

And storm in Biscay driven back the Dons. 

This is but rumor — we will learn the truth. 

Harding, take horse and bear these lines to Drake — (gives paper 

If yet our country needs stout hearts to guard her, 

He'll not forget the men on board the Dreadnaught. 

Thou canst be back ere sunset with his answer, 

And find me in yon towers of Montreville. 

\JExit Harding, r. 1 e. 

Meanwbile make merrv in the hostel, lads, 

And drink me out these ducats in this toast :— (gives coiii) 

" No foes be tall eno' to wade the moat 

Which girds the fort whose only walls are men.*' 

[Sailors cheer, and exeunt B. J b. 
Vyv. (c.V I never hailed reprieve from war till now. 

Henven grant but time to see mine Eveline, 

And learn my birth from Alton. 



ACT I. 



Enter Falkneb, l. 1 e. 

Falk. Captain, (meets Vyvyan, c.) 

Vyv. Falkner ! 

So soon returned 1 Thy smile seems fresh from home. 

All well there 1 
Falk. Just, in time to make all well. 

My poor old father ! — bailiffs at his door ; 

He tills another's land, and crops had failed. 

I poured mine Indian gold into his lap, 

And cried, " father wilt thou now forgive 

The son who went to sea against thy will 1 " 
Vyv. And he forgave. — Now tell me of thy mother; 

I never knew one, but I love to mark 

The quiver of a strong man's bearded lip 

When his voice lingers on the name of mother. 

Thy mother bless'd thee 

Falk. Yes, I (falters and turns aside.) 

Pshaw ! methought 

Her joy was weeping on my breast again ! 
Vyv. I envy thee those tears. 
Falk. Enough of me ! 

Now for thyself. What news 1 Thy fair betrothed — 

The maid we rescued from the turband corsair 

With her brave father in the Indian seas — 

Found and still faithful 1 
Vyv. Faithful I will swear it ; 

But not yet found. Her sire is dead — the stranger 

Sits at his hearth — and with her next of kin, 

Hard by this spot — yea, in yon sunlit towers (points up l.) 

Mine Eveline dwells. 
Falk. Thy foster father, Alton, 

Hast thou seen him ? 
Vyv. Not yet. My Falkner, serve me. 

His house is scarce a two hours' journey hence, 

The nearest hamlet will afford a guide ; 

Seek him and break the news of my return, 

Say I shall see. him ere the day be sped. 

And, hearken, friend (good men at home are apt 

To judge us sailors harshly), tell him this — 

On the far seas his foster son recalled 

Prayers taught by age to childhood, and implored 

Blessings on that gray head. Farewell ! (Falkner exits vt. 1 e.) 
Now. Eveline. [Exit, Vyvyan l. 1 e. 

SrR G. (comes down l. a). Thou seekest those lowers — go! I will meet 
thee there. 

He must not see the priest — the hour is come 

Absolving Alton's vow to guard the secret ; 

Since the boy left, two 'scutcheons moulder o'er 

The dust of tombs from which his rights ascend ; 

He must not see the priest — but how iorestali him 1 — 

Within! For there dwells Want, Wit's counsellor, 

Harboring grim Force, which is Ambition's tool. 

[Exit Sir Grey, d in 3 a. flat. 

Drop Curtain for change. Music during watt. 



20 THE HIGHTFUL HEIE. 

Scene changes to 

SCENE II. — Castle Gardens in 5th grooves. 

Enter, r. u. e., Lady Moxtreville, by steps to c. 

Lady M. This were liis birthday, were he living still ! 
But the wide ocean is his winding sheet, 
And his grave — here ! (hand to heart) I dreamed of him last 

night. 
Peace! with the dead, died shame and glozing slander; 
In the son left me still, I clasp a world 
Of blossoming hopes which flower beneath my love, 
And take frank beauty from the flattenng day. 

And but my Clarence — in his princely smile 

How the air brightens. 

Enter Lord Beaufort and Maesden, l. 3 E. 

Lord B. (to Maesden). Yes, my gallant roan, 

And stay — be sure the falcon, which my lord 

Of Leicester sent me ; we will try its metal, (goes up r. c.) 
Mars. Your eyes do bless him. madam, so do mine : 

A gracious spring ; Heaven grant we see its summer ! 

Forgive, dear lady, your old servant's freedom. 
Lady M. Who loves him best, with me ranks highest, Marsden. 

[Exit Marsden. l. 2 e. 

Clarence, you see me not. 
Lord B. (comes doun). Dear mother, welcome, (r o/ Lady M.] 

Why do I miss my soft-eyed cousin here 1 
Lady M. It doth not please me, son, that thou should'st haunt 

Her steps, and witch with dulcet words her ear. 

Eveline is fair, but not the mate for Beaufort. 
Lord B. Mate! Awful word! Can youth not gaze on beauty 

Save by the torch of Hymen 1 To be gallant, 

Melt speech in sighs, or murder sense in sonnets / 

Veer with each change in Fancy's April skies, * 

And o'er each sun-shower fling its fleeting rainbow. 

All this 

Ladv M. (gloomily). Alas, is love. 

Lord B. No ! Love's light prologue, 

The sportive opening to the serious drama; 

The pastime practice of Dan Cupid's bow, 

Against that solemn venture at the butts 

At which fools make so many random shafts, 

And rarely hit the white ! Nay. smile, my mother j 

How does this plume become me 1 
Lady M. Foolish boy ! 

It sweeps too loosely, ' 

Lord B. Now-a-days. man's love 

Is worn as loosely as I wear this plume — 

A glancing feather stirred with every wind 

Into new shadows o'er a giddy brain, 

Such as your son's. Let the plume play, sweet mother. 
Lady M. Would I could chide thee? (to r. c.) 
Lord B. (to l.). Hark, I hear my steed 



ACT I. 11 

Neighing impatience ; and ray falcon frets 
Noon's lazy air with lively silver bells ; 
Now, madam, look to it — no smile from me 
When next we meet, — no kiss of filial duty, 
Unless ray fair-faced cousin stand beside you ; 
Blushing " Peccavi" for all former sins — 
Shy looks, cold words, this 4ast unnatural absence. 
And taught how cousins should behave to cousins. 

[Exit Lord Beaufort, l. 3 B. 
Lady M. Trifler ! And yet the faults that quicken fear 

Make us more fond — we parents love to pardon, {goes up c.) 

Enter Eveline, r, 1 e., weaving flowers — not seeing Lady Montreville. 

Evel. ((rings). Bud from the blossom, 

And leaf from the tree, 
Guess why in weaving 
I sing " Woe is me ! " (goes up c. to wall.) 

'Tis that I weave you 
To drift on the sea, 
And say, when ye find him, 
Who sang " Woe is me ! " 
(casts garland over wall, blows a kiss; and comes down c.) 

Lady M. A quaint but mournful rhyme. 

Evel. You, madam ! — pardon } 

Lady M. What tells the song 1 

Evel. A simple village tale 

Of a lost seaman, and a crazed girl, 
His plighted bride — good Marsden knew her well, 
And oft-times marked her singing on the beach, 
Then launch her flowers, and smile upon the sea. 
I know not why — both rhyme and tale do haunt me. 

Lady M. Sad thoughts haunt not young hearts, thou senseless child. 

Evel. Is not the child an orphan 1 (both at c, she r. of Lady M.) 

Lady M. In those eyes 

Ts there no moisture softer than the tears 
Which mourn a father'? Roves thy glance for Beaufort 1 
Vain girl, beware ! The flattery of the great 
Is but the eagle's swoop upon the dove, 
And, in descent, destroys, 

Evel. Can you speak thus, 

Yet bid me grieve not that I am an orphan 1 

[Exit, thoughtfully, l. 2 BJ. 

Lady M. (aside). I have high dreams for Beaufort ; bright desires ! 
Son of a race whose lives shine down on Time 
From lofty tombs, like beacon-towers o'er ocean, 
He stands amidst the darkness of my thought, 
Radiant as Hope in some lone captive's cell. 
Far from the gloom around, mine eyes, inspired, 
Pierce to the future, when these bones are dust, 
And see him loftiest of the lordly choirs 
Whose swords and coronals blaze around the throne, 
The guardian stars of the imperial isle — 
Kings shall ravers his mother. 

(seats herself in garden seat thoughtfully.') 



22 IKE RIGHTFUL HEIE. 



N. 



Enter, n. 1 E., Sir Grey, speaking to Servant. 






Sir 0. What say'st thou 1 

Servant {insolently). Sir Grey — ha ! ha ! — Lord Beaufort carves your 
pardon, 
He shot your hound — its bark disturbed the deer." 
Sir G. The only voice that welcomed me ! A dog — 

Grudges he that % (r. c.) 
Servant. Oh, sir, 'twas done in kindness 

To you and him ; the dog was wondrous lean, sir ! 
Sir G. I thank my lord ! [Exit Servant, r. 1 e., laughing. 

So my poor Tray is killed ! 
And yet that dog but barked — can this not bite 1 

(approaches Lady Montreyille, vindictively in a whisper.) 
He lives ! 
Lady M. He ! who % 

Sir G. The heir of Montreville ! 

Another, and an elder Beaufort, lives ! (Lady "MS rises.) 
(Aside.) So — the fang fixes fast — good — good ! (l. c. front.) 
Lady M. • Thou saidst 

Ten years ago — " Thy first-born is no more — 
Died in far seas." 
Sir G. So swore my false informant. 

But now, the deep that took the harmless boy 
Casts from its breast the bold-eyed daring man. 
Lady M. Clarence ! My poor proud Clarence ! (c.) 
Sir G. (l. c. front). Ay, poor Clarence ! 

True ; since his father, by his former nuptials, 
Had other sons, if you, too, own an elder, 
Clarence is poor, as poor as his poor cousin. 
Ugh ! but the air is keen, and Poverty 
Is thinly clad ; subject to rheums and agues, (shivers) 
Asthma and phthisic, (coughs) pains in the loins and limbs, 
And leans upon a crutch, like your poor cousin. 
If Poverty begs. Law sets it in the stocks j 
If it is ill, the doctors mangle it ; 
If it is dying, the priests scold at it ; 
And, when 'tis dead, rich kinsmen cry, " Thank heaven ! " 
Ah ! If the elder prove his rights, dear lady, 
Your younger son will know what's poverty ! 
Lady M. Malignant, peace ! why doestthou torture me 1 
The priest who shares alone with us the secret 
Hath sworn to guard it. 
Sir G. Only while thy sire 

And second lord survived. Yet, what avails 
In law his tale, unbacked by thy confession 7 
Lady M. He hath proofs, clear proofs. Thrice woe to Clarence ! 
Sir G. Proofs — written proofs ] 

Lady M. Of marriage, and the birth ! 

Sir G. Wherefore so long was this concealed from me 1 
Lady M. (haughtily). Thou wert my father's agent, Grey De Malpas, 

Not my familiar. 
Sir G. (j)roudly). Here, then, ends mine errand, (going l.) 

Lady M. Stay, sir — forgive my rash and eager temper ; 
Stay, stay, and counsel me. What ! sullen still 1 
Needest thou gold 1 befriend, and find me grateful. 



ACT I. 13 

Sir G. Lady of Montreville, T was once young, 

And pined for gold, to wed the maid I loved : 
Your father said, " Poor cousins should not marry," 
And gave that sage advice in lieu of gold. 
A few years later, and I grew ambitious, 
And longed for wars and fame, and foolish honors : 
Then I lacked gold, to join the knights, mine equals, 
As might become a Malpas, and your kinsman: 
Your father said he had need of his poor cousin 
At home to be his huntsman, and his falconer ! 

Lady M. Forgetful ! After my first fatal nuptials 
- And their sad fruit, count you as naught ■ 

Sir G. My hire ! 

For service and for silence ; not a gift. 

Lady M. And spent in riot, waste, and wild debauch! 

Sir G. True ; in the pauper's grand inebriate wish 

To know what wealth is, — tho' but for an hour. 

"Lady M. But blame you me or mine, if spendthrift wassail 
Run to the dregs 1 Mine halls stand open to you ; 
My noble Beaufort hath not spurned your converse j 
You have been welcomed 

Sir G. _ At your second table, 

And as the butt of unchastised lackeys ; , 
While your kind son. in pity of my want, 
Hath this day killed the faithful dog that shared it. 
'Tis well ; you need my aid, as did your father, 
And tempt, like him, with gold. I take the service j 
And, when the task is done will talk of payment. 
Hist ! the boughs rustle. Closer space were safer j 
Vouchsafe your hand, let us confer within. 

Lady M. Well might I dream last night! A fearful dream. 

[Excicnt Lady Montreville and Sir Grey, by steps, and off R. 2. E. 
conversing. 

Enta- Eveline, l. 2 e. 

Evel. Oh, for some fairy talisman to conjure 

Up to these longing eyes the form they pine for ! 

And yet, in love, there's no such word as absence ; 

The loved one glides beside our steps forever j (seated in garden 

seat.) 
Its presence gave such beauty to the world, 
That all things beautiful its tokens are, 
And aught in sound most sweet, to sight most fair, 
Breathes with its voice, and haunts us with its aspect. 

Enter Vyvyan, l. 3 e. 

There spoke my fancy, not my heart ! Where art thou, 
My nnforgotten Vyvyan 1 
Vyv. (kneels to her). At thy feet! 

Look up — look up ! — these are the arms that sheltered 

When the storm howled around ; and these the lips 

Where, till this hour, the sad and holy kiss 

Of parting lingered, as the fragance left 

By angels, when they touch the earth and vanish. 

Look up ; night never hungered for the sun 

As for thine eyes my soul ! 



14 



THE KIGHTTUTj liEITl. 



Evel. (embraces Yyvyan). Oh ! joy, joy, joy ! 

Vyv. Yet wet-ping still, tho' leaning on my breast! 

My sailor's bride, hast thou no voice but blushes 1 

Nay from those drooping roses let me steal 

The coy reluctant sweetness ! 
Evel. And, methought 

I had treasured words, 'twould take a life to utter 

When we should meet again 1 
Vyv. Recall them later. 

We shall have time eno', when life with life 

Blends into one j — (Eveline looks r.) why dost thou start and 
tremble '? 
Evel. Methought I heard her slow and solemn footfall ! (rises.) 
Vyv. Her ! Why, thou speak'st of woman : the meek word 

Which never chimes with terror. 
Evel. You know not 

The dame of Montreville. (c.) 
Vyv. (it. of Evelixe). Is she so stern 1 

Evel. Not stern, but haughty ; as if high-born virtue 

Swept o'er the earth to scorn the faults it pardoned. 
Vyv. Haughty to thee 1 
Evel. To all, e'en when the kindest ; 

Nay, I do wrong her ; never to her son ; 

And when those proud eyes moisten as they hail him, 

Hearts lately stung, yearn to a heart so human ! 

Alas, that parent love ! how in its loss 

All life seems shelterless ! 
Vyv. Like thee, perchance, 

Looking round earth for that same parent shelter, 

I too may find but tombs. So, turn we both, 

Orphans, to that lone parent of the lonely, 

That doth like Sorrow ever upward gaze 

On calm consoling stars ; the mother Sea., 
Evel. Call not the cruel sea by that mild name. 
Vyv. She is not cruel if her breast swell high 

Against the winds that thwart her loving aim 

To link, by every raft whose eourse she speeds, 

Maivs common brotherhood from pole to pole ; 

Grant she hath danger — danger schools the brave, 

And bravery leaves all cruel things to cowards. 

Grant that she harden us to fear, the hearts 

Most proof to fear are easiest moved to love, 

As on the oak whose roots defy the storm, 

All the leaves tremble when the south-wind stirs. 

Yet if the sea dismay thee, (right arm around Eveline's tcaist) 
on the shores 

Kissed by her waves, and far, as fairy isles 

In poet dreams, from this gray care-worn world, 

Blooms many a bower for the Sea Rover's bride. 

I know a land where feathering palm-trees shade 

To delicate twilight, suns benign as those 

W T hose dawning gilded Eden ; Nature, there, 

Like a cay spendthrift in his flush of youth, 

Flings her whole treasure on the lap of Time. 

There, steeped in roseate hues, the lakelike sea 

Heaves to an air whose breathing is ambrosia; 

And, all the while, bright-winged and warbling birds, 



ACT I. 15 

Like happy souls released, melodious float 
Thro' blissful light, and teach the ravished earth 
How joy finds voice in Heaven. Come, rest we yonder, 
And, side by side, forget that we are orphans ! 

[Vyvyan and Eveline exeunt, l. 1 e-. 

Enter Lady Montreville and Sir Grey, r. 2 e., and down the steps. 

Lady M. Yet still, if Alton sees 

Sir G. Without the proofs, 

Why, Alton's story were but idle wind ; 

The man I send is swift and strong, and ere 

This Vyvyan (who would have been here before me 

But that I took the shorter path) depart 

From your own threshold to the priest's abode, 

Our agent gains the solitary dwelling, 

And 

Lady M. But no violence ! 

Sir G. Nay, none but fear — 

Fear will suffice to force from trembling age ^ 

Your safety, and preserve your Beaufort's birthright. 
Lady M. Let me not hear the ignominious means ; 

Gain thou the end ; — quick — quick ! 
Sir G. And if, meanwhile, 

This sailor come, be nerved to meet a stranger ; 

And to detain a guest. 
Lady M. My heart is wax, 

But my will, iron. — Go. (r. c. by scat.) 
Sir G. {aside.) To fear add force — 

And this hand closes on the proofs, and welds 

That iron to a tool. [Exit Sir Grey, r. I b« 

Enter Vyvyan and Eveline, l. 1 e., to up l. c. 

Evel. Nay, Vyvyan — nay, 

Your guess can fathom not how proud her temper. 
Vyv. Tut for her pride ! a king upon the deck 

Is every subject's equal in the hall. 

I will advance, (he uncovers.) 
Lady M. Avenging angels, spare me ! 

(great emotion, unable to look at VyvyAN.J 
Vyv. Pa-don the seeming boldness of my presence. 
Evel.* Our gallant countryman, of whom my father 

So often spake — who from the Algerine 

Rescued our lives and freedom. 
Lady M. Ah ! Your name, sir? 

Vyv. The name I bear is Vyvyan, noble lady. i 

Lady M. Sir, you are welcome. Walk within, and hold 

Our home your hostel, while it lists you. 
Vyv. Madam, 

I shall be prouder in all after time 

For having been your guest* 
Lady M jj ow i ove an d dread 



*Ladt M. Vyvyan. Eveline. 

E. Ofc. Q. L. C. 



16 



THE RIGHTFUL HEiK. 






Make tempest here ! I pray you follow me. 

[Exit Lady Montreyille, r. 2 e. 
Vtt. A most majestic lady— her fair face 

Made my heart tremble, and called back old dreams : 

Thou saidst she had a son 1 
Evel. Ah, yes. 

Yyv. I n truth 

A happy man. 
Evel. Yet he might envy thee : 

Vyv. Most arch reprover, yes. As kings themselves 

Might envy one whose arm entwines his all. 

[arm around Eveline, exeunt E. 2 E. Music. 

CURTAIN".. 



ACT II. 

SCENE I. — Room in 1st grooves. 

Discover Lady Montreville and Vyvyan seated at table, and Evelihb 
L. c. front.* 

Vyv. Ha ! ha ! In truth we made a scurvy figure 
After our shipwreck. 

Lady M. You jest merrily 

On your misfortunes. 

Vyv. 'Tis the way with sailors : 

Still in extremes. Ah ! I can he sad sometimes. 

Lady M. That sigh, in truth, speaks sadness. Sir, if I 
In aught could serve you, trust me. 

Evel. Trust her, Vyvyan. 

Methinks the mournful tale of thy young years 
Would raise thee up a friend, wherever pity 
Lives in the heart of woman. 

Vyv. Gentle lady, 

The key of some charmed music in your voice 
Unlocks a haunted chamber in my soul ; 
And — would you listen to an outcast's tale, 
'Tis briefly told. Until my fifteenth year, 
Beneath the roof of a poor village priest, 
Not far from hence, my childhood wore away ; 
Then stirred within me restless thoughts and deep; 
Throughout the liberal and harmonious nature 
Something seemed absent, — what, I scarcely knew, 
Till one calm ni^ht, when over slumbering seas 
Watched the still heaven, and down on every wave 
Looked some soft lulling star — the instinctive want 
Learned what it pined for ; and I asked the priest 
With a quick sigh — " Why I was motherless 1 " 



Lady M .* : table. : * Vyvyan. 

*EVELINE. 



ACT II. 17 

I Lady M. And he 1 — 

Vyv. Replied that — I was nobly born, 

And that the cloud which dimmed a dawning sun, 
Oft but feretold its splendor at the noon. 
As thus he spoke, faint memories struggling came — 
Faint as the things some former life hath known. 

Lady M. Of whatl 

Vyv. (rises, keeps his eyes on Lady M.). A face sweet with a stately 
sorrow, 
And lips which breathed the words that mothers murmur. 

Lady M. {aside). Back, tell-tale tears ! {weeping.) 

Vyv. About that time, a stranger 

Came to our hamlet ; rough, yet, some said, well-born ; 
Roysterer, and comrade, such as youth delights in. 
Sailor he called himself, and naught belied 
The sailor's metal ringing in his talk 
Of El Dorados, and Enchanted Isles, 
Of hardy Raleigh, and of dauntless Drake, 
And great Columbus with prophetic eyes 
Fixed on a dawning world. His legends fired me — 
And, from the deep whose billows washed our walls, 
The alluring wave called with a Siren's music. 
And thus I left my home with that wild seaman. 

Lady M. The priest, consenting; still divulged not more? 

Vyv. No ; nor rebuked mine ardor. " Go," he said, 
" The noblest of all nobles are the men 
In whom their country feels herself ennobled." 

Lady M. (aside). I breathe again, (aloud) Well, thus you left these 
shores 

Vyv. Scarce had the brisker sea-wind filled our sails, 
When the false traitor who had lured my trust ' 
Cast me to chains and darkness. Days went by, 
At length — one belt of desolate waters round, 
And on the decks one scowl of swarthy brows, 
(A hideous crew, the refuse of all shores) — 
Under the flapping of his raven flag 
The pirate stood revealed, and called his captive. 
Grimly he heard my boyish loud upbraidings, 
And grimly smiled in answering : " I, like thee, 
Cast off, and disinherited, and desperate, 
Had but one choice, death or the pirate's flag- 
Choose thou — I am more gracious than thy kindred ; 
I proffer life ; the gold they gave me paid 
Thy grave in ocean ! " 

Lady M. Hold ! The demon lied ! 

Vyv. Swift, as I answered so, his blade flashed forth ; 
But self-defence is swifter still than slaughter ; 
I plucked a sword from one who stood beside me, 

(gesture of parrying a thrust and replying by a down cut) 
And smote the slanderer to my feet. Then all 
That human hell broke loose; oaths rang, steel lightened j 
When in the death-swoon of the caitiff chief, 
The pirate next in rank forced back the swarm, 
And— in that superstition of the sea 
Which makes the sole religion of its outlaws — 
Forbade my doom by bloodshed — griped and bound me 
Do a slight plank ; spread to the winds the sail, 



Jg THE EIGHTFUL HEIR. 

And left me on the waves alone with God. 

Evel. Pause, (standing beside Vyyyan) Let my hand take thine — feel 
its warm life, 
And, shuddering less, thank Him whose eye was o'er thee. 

Vyv. That day, and all that night, upon the seas 

Tossed the frail barrier between life and death ; 
Heaven lulled the gales ; and when the stars came forth, 
All looked so bland and gentle that I wept, 
Recalled that wretch's words, and murmured, '-'Ail, 
E'en wave and wind, are kinder than my kindred ! " 
But — nay, sweet lady 

Lady M. (sobbing). Heed me not. (ivith an effort) Night passed 

Vyv. Day dawned ; and, glittering in the sun, behold 
A sail — a flag ! 

Evel. Well— well? 

Vyv. Like Hope, it vanished ! 

Noon glaring came — with noon came thirst and famine, 
And with parched lips I called on death, and sought 
To wrench my limbs from the stiff cords that gnawed 
Into the flesh, and drop into the deep: 
And then — the clear wave trembled, and below 
I saw a dark, swift-moving, shapeless thing, 
With watchful, glassy eyes ; — the ghastly shark 
Swam hungering round its prey — then life once more 
Grew sweet, and with a strained and horrent gaze 
And lifted hair I floated on, till sense 
Grew dim, and dimmer ; and a terrible sleep 
(In which still — still those livid eyes met mine) 
Fell on me — and 

Evel. Quick — quick ! 

Vyv. I woke, and heard 

My native tongue ! Kind looks were bent upon me. 
I lay on deck — escaped the ravening death — 
For God had watched the sleeper. 

Evel. Oh, such memories 

Make earth, forever after, nearer heaven ; 
And each new hour an altar for thanksgiving. 

Lady M. Break not the tale my ear yet strains to listen. 

Vyv. True lion of the ocean was the chief 

Of that good ship. Beneath his fostering eyes, 

Nor all ungraced by Drake's illustrious praise, 

And the frank clasp of Raleigh's kingly hand, 

I fought my way to manhood. At his death 

The veteran left me a more absolute throne 

Than Caasar filled — his war-ship ; for my realm 

Add to the ocean, hope — and measure it ! 

Nameless, I took his name. My tale is done — 

And each past sorrow, like a wave ou shore, 

Dies on this golden hour, (goes l. with Eveline, tenderly.) 

Lady M. (observing them). He loves my ward, 

Whom Clarence, too — that thought piles fear on fear ; 

Yet, hold — that very rivalship gives safety — 

Affords pretext to urge the secret nuptials, 

And the prompt parting, ere he meet with Alton. 

I — but till Nature sohs itself to peace, 

Here's that which chokes all reason. Will ve not 



ACT II. 19 

Taste summer air, cooled through yon shadowy alleys 1 

Anon I'll join you. [Exit Lady Montreville, k. 

Vyv. We will wait your leisure. 

A most compassionate and courteous lady — 

How could'st thou call her proud 1 
Evel. Nay, ever henceforth, 

For the soft pity she has shown to thee, 

I'll love her as a mother. 
Vyv. Thus I thank thee, (kissing her hand.) 

[ Exeunt l. 
SCENE II. — Castle yard, in bth grooves. 

Enter Sir Grey De Malpas, l. 1 e. 

Lord B. {speaking off l. 2 e.). A nohle falcon ! Marsden, hood him 
gently. 

Enter Lord Beaufort, d. in 3 g. set. 

Good-day. old knight, thou hast a lowering lock, 
As if still ruffled by some dire affray 
With lawless mice, at riot in thy larder. 
Sir G. Mice in my house ! magnificent dreamer, mice! 

The last was found three years ago last Christmas, 

Stretched out beside a bone ; so lean and worn 

With pious fast — 'twas piteous to behold it; 

1 canonized its corpse in spirits of wine, 

And set it in the porch — a solemn warning 

To its poor cousins ! (aside) Shall I be avenged 1 ? 

He killed my dog too. 

Enter Vyvyan and Eveline, r. 2 e., remaining up r. on platform. 

Lord B. (l. a). Knight, look here !— A stranger, 

And whispering with my cousin. 
SirG. (l. c. front, aside). Jealous'? Ha! 

Something should come of this : Hail, green-eyed fiend ! 

(aloud) Let us withdraw — tho' old, I have been young ; 

The whispered talk of lovers should be sacred. 
Lord B. Lovers! 
Sir G. Ah ! true ! You know not, in you absence 

Your mother hath received a welcome guest 

In your fair cousin's wooer. Note him well, 

A stalwart, comely gallant. 
Lord B. Art thou serious'? 

A wooer to my cousin — quick, his name ! 
Sir G. His name 1 — my memory doth begin to fail me — 

Your mother will recall it. Seek — ask her 

(Vyvyan and Eveline come down R. C.) 
Lord B. (to a). Whom have we here 1 Familiar sir, excuse me, 

I do not see the golden spurs of knighthood. 
Vyv.* Alack, we sailors have not so much gold 

That we should waste it on our heels ! The steeds 

We ride to battle need no spurs, Sir Landsman ; 

* Eveline. Vyvyan. Beaufort. Sir Grey, 

r. of c. c. l. c. 



20 THE RIGHTFUL HEIK. 

Lord B. And overleap all laws ; (sneeringly) methinks thou art 
One of those wild Sea Rovers, who 

Vyv. (quicldij). Refuse 

To yield to Spain's pround tyranny, her claim 
To treat as thieves and pirates all who cross 
The line Spain's finger draws across God's ocean. 
We, the Sea Rovers, on our dauntless decks 
Carry our land, its language, laws, and freedom j 
We wrest from Spain the sceptre of the seas, 
And in the New World build up a new England. 
For this high task, if we fulfill it duly, 
The Old and New World both shall bless the names 
Of Walter Raleigh and his bold Sea Rovers. 

Lord B. Of those names thine is 

Vyv. Vyvyan. 

Lord B. Master Vyvyan, 

Our rank scarce fits us for a fair encounter 
With the loud talk of blustering mariners. 
We bar you not our hospitality ; 
Our converse, yes. Go ask the Seneschal 
To lodge you with your equals ! 

Vyv. Equals, stripling! 

Mine equals truly should be bearded men, 
Noble with titles carpet lords should bow to — 
Memories of dangers dared, and service done, 
And scars on bosoms that have bled for England ! 

Sir. G. Nay, coz, he has thee there, {restraining Beaufort from draw- 
ing stvord.) 

Thou shalt not, Clarence. 
Strike me. I'm weak and safe — but he is dangerous. 

Enter Lady Montreville, r. 1 e., as Lord Beaufort breaks from Sir 
Grey and draws his stvord. 

Evel. Protect your guest from your rash son. 

Lady M. Thy sword 

Drawn on thy (c.) Back, boy ! I command thee, back! 

To you, sir guest, have I in aught so failed, 

That in the son you would rebuke the mother ? 
Vyv.* Madam, believe, my sole offence was this, 

That rated as a serf, I spoke as man. 
Lady M. Wherefore, Lord Beaufort, such unseemly humors 1 
Lord B. {drawing her aside). Wherefore 1 — and while we speak his 
touch profanes her ! 

Who is this man 1 Dost thou approve his suit 1 

Beware ! 
Lady M. You would not threaten Oh, my Clarence, 

Hear me — you 

Lord B. Learned in childhood from my mother 

To brook no rival — and to curb no passion. 

Aid'st thou you scatterling against thy son, 

Where most his heart is set 1 
Lady M. Thy heart, perverse one 1 

Thou saidst it was not love. 

* Eveline. Vyvyan. Lady M. Beaufort. Sir Grey. 

R. R. C. C. L. C. L. 



ACT II. 21 

;L 0I , D b. That was before 

A rival made it love — nay, fear not mother, 

If you dismiss this insolent; but. mark me, 

Dismiss him straight, or by mine honor, madam, 

Blood will be shed. 
Lady B. Thrice miserable boy ! 

Let the heavens hear thee not ! 
Lord B. (whispering to Vyvyan as he crosses r.) Again, aDd soon, sir ! 

[Exit r. 1 E. 
Lady M. (seeing Sir Grey). Villain !— but no. I dare not yet up- 
braid 

(aloud) After him, quick ! Appease, soothe, humor him. 
Sir Gr. Ay, madam, trust to your poor cousin. [Exit r. 1 b. 

Lady M. Eveline, , 

Thou lov'st this Vyvyan 1 
Evel. Lady — I— he saved 

My life and honor. 
Lady M. Leave us, gentle child, 

I would confer with him. May both be happy ! 
Evel. (Jo Vyvyan). Hush ! she consents ; well mayst then bid me 

love her. [Exit Eveline, l. 1 e. 

Lady M. Sir, if I gather rightly from your speech, 

You do not mean long sojourn on these shores'? 
Vyv. Lady, in sooth, mine errand here was two-fold. 

First, to behold, and, if I dare assume 

That you will ratify her father's promise, 

To claim my long affianced , next to learn 

If Heaven vouchsafe me yet a parent's heart. 

I gained these shores to hear of war and danger — 

The long-suspended thunderbolt of Spain 

Threatened the air. I have dispatched an envoy 

To mine old leader, Drake, to crave sure tidings; 

I wait reply : If England be in peril, 

Hers my first service ; if, as rumor runs, 

The cloud already melts without a storm, 

Then, my bride gained, and my birth tracked, I sail 

Back to the Indian seas, where wild adventure 

Fulfills in life what boyhood dreamed in song. 
Lady M. 'Tis frankly spoken — frankly I reply. 

First — England's danger ; row. for five slow years 

Have Spam's dull trumpets blared their braggart war, 

And Rome's gray mor.k- craft muttered new crusades j 

Well, we live still — and all this deluge dies 

In harmless spray ou England's scornful cliffs. 

And, trust me. sir, if war beleaguer England, 

Small need of one man's valor : lacked she soldiers, 

Metriink3 a Mars would strike in childhood's arm, 

Aud woman be Bellona l 
Vyv. Stately matron, 

So would our mother country speak and look, 

Could she take vis-ibie image ! 
Lady M. Claim thy bride 

With my assent, and joyous gratulation. 

She shall not go undowried to your arms. 

Nor deem me wanting to herself and you 
If I adjure prompt nuptials and departure. 
Beaufort— thou see'st how fiery is his mood— 



22 THE RIGHTFUL HEIE. 

In my ward's lover would avenge a rival : 
Indulge the impatient terrors of a mother, 
And quit these shores. Why not this night? 
Vyv. This night 1 

With her — my bride 1 
Lady M. So from the nuptial altar 

Pledge thou thy faith to part — to spread the sail 
And put wide seas between my son and thee. 
Vyv. This night, with Eveline !— dream of rapture! {changes look from 
joy to pain) yet — 
My birth untracked — 
Lady M. Delay not for a doubt 

Bliss when assured. And, heed me, I have wealth 
To sharpen law. and power to strengthen justice ; 
I will explore the mazes of this mystery ; 
I — I will track your parents. 
Vyv. Blessed lady ; 

My parents !— Find me one with eyes like thine, 

(Lady M. starts.) 
And were she lowliest of the hamlet born, 
I would not change with monarchs. 
Lady M. {aside). Can I bear this 1 

Your Eveline well nigh is my daughter: you 
Her plighted spouse ; pray you this kiss — sweet! 

(Vyvyan sinks on on;' Tcnee as Lady M. kisses his forehead.) 
Vyv. Ah. as I kneel and as thou bendest o'er me, 
Methinks an angel's hand lifts up the veil 
Of Time, the great magician and I see 
Above mine infant couch, a face like thine. 
Lady M. Mine, stranger ! 

Vyv. Pardon me ; a vain wild thought 

I know it is ; but on my faith, I think 
My mother was like thee. 
Lady M. Peace, peace ! We talk 

And fool grave hours away. Inform thy bride ; 
Then to thy bark, and bid thy crew prepare ; 
Meanwhile, I give due orders to my chaplain. 
Beside the altar we shall meet once more , — 
{voice breaks) And then — and then — Heaven's blessing and farewell ] 
[Exit Lady Mo> t treville, l. 1 b., wildly. 
Vyv. Most feeling heart ! its softness hath contagion. 

And melts mine own ! Her aspect wears a charm 
That half divides my soul with Eveline's love ! 
Strange ! while 1 muse, a chill and ominous awe 
Creeps thro' my veins! Away, ye vague iorebodings s 
Eveline ! At thy dear name the phantoms vanish, 
And the glad future breaks like land on sea. 
When rain-mists melt beneath the golden morn. 

Enter, d. in 3 g. set, Falknek. 

Falk. Ha ! Vyvyan ! 

Yyv. Thou! 

Falk. ^ Breathless with speed to reach thee. 

I guessed thee lingering here. Thy loster hire 
Hath proofs that clear the shadow from thy birth. 
Go — he awaits thee where yon cioud-capi reck 



ACT II. oA 

Jags air with barbed peaks — St. Kinian's Cliff. 

[Shouts off L., family. 
Vyv. My birth ! My parents live 1 
Falk. I know no more. 

Enter, d. in 3 g. set, Harding. 

Hard. Captain, the rumor lied. I bring such news 

As drums and clarions and resounding anvils 

Fashioning the scythes of reapers into swords, 

Shall ring from Thames to Tweed. 
Vyv. The foeman comes ! 

Hard, {gives letter'). These lines will tell thee ; Drake's own hand. 

[Goes up l. C; 
Vyv. (reads'). " The Armada 

Has left the Groyne, and we are ranging battle. 

Come ! in the van I leave one gap for thee." 

Poor Eveline ! Shame on such unworthy weakness ! 
Falk. Time to see her and keep thy tryst with Alton. 

Leave me to call the crews and arm the decks. 

Not till the moon rise, in the second hour 

After Ihe sunset, will the deepening tide 

Floa» us from harbor — ere that hour be past 

Our ship shall wait thee by St. Kinian's Cliff. 

Small need to pray thee not to miss the moment 

Whose loss would lose thee honor. 
Vyv. If I come not 

Ere the waves reel to thy third sijrnal gun, 

Deem Death alone could so delay from duty, 

And step into my post as o'er my corpse. 
Falk. Justly, my captain, thou rebuk'si my warning. 

And couldst thou fail us, I would hold the signal 

As if thy funeral knell — crowd every s-aii, 

And know thy soul 

Vyv. "Was with my country still, (shouts offh.) 

tinter, D, in 3 g. set, Sub-officer, Sailors, Retainers, and Villagers, 
confusedly. 

Sub-officer (with broadsheet). Captain, look here. Just come! 
Vyv. The Queen's Address 

From her own lips to the armed lines at Tilbury. 
Voices. Read it sir, read it — 
Vyv; Hush then, (reads) " Loving people, 

Let tyrants fear ! I, under Heaven, have placed 

In loyal hearts my chiefest strength and safeguard, 

Being resolved in the midst and heat of the battle 

To live and die amongst you all ; content 

To lay down for my God and for my people 

My life biood even in die dust : I know 

I have the body of a feeble woman, 

Bui a King's heart a King of England's too ; 

And think foul fccorn that Parma, Spain, or Europe, 

Dare to invade the borders of my realm ! 

Where England fights— with concord in the camp, 

Trust m the chief," and vaior in the field, 



24 THE RIGHTFUL HEIR. 

Swift be her victory over every foe 

Threatening her crown, her altars, and her people." 

The noble Woman King ! These words of fire 

Will send warm blood through all the veins of Freedom 

Till England is a dream ! Uncover, lads ! 

God and St. George ! Hurrah for England's Queen ! 

(Cheers, all cheer.') 

Villagers. ****** Villagers. 
Falkner.* *Vyyyan. * Harding. 

quick curtain. 



ACT III. 

SCENE I. — Bochj Landscape in 2d grooves. 

Discover Alton and Vyvyan, seated c. 

Alton. And I believed them when they said " He died 
Tn the far seas." Ten years of desolate sorrow 
Passed as one night — Now thy warm hand awakes me. 

Vyv. Dear friend, the sun sets fast. 

Alton. Alas ! then listen. 

There was a page, fair, gentle, brave, but low-born — 

And in those years when, to young eyes the world, 

With all the rough disparities of fortune, 

Floats level thro' the morning haze of fancy, 

He loved the heiress of a lordly house : 

She scarce from childhood, listening, loved again, 

And secret nuptials hallowed stolen meetings — 

'Till one — I know not whom (perchance a kinsman, 

Heir to that house — if childless died its daughter) 

Spied — tracked the bridegroom to the bridal bower, 

Aroused the sire, and said, "Thy child's dishonored! " 

Snatching his sword, the father sought the chamber j 

Burst the closed portal — but his lifted hand 

Escaped the crime. Cold as a fallen statue, 

Cast from its blessed pedestal forever, 

The bride lay senseless on the lonely floor 

By the ope'd casement, from whose terrible height 

The generous boy, to save her life or honor, 

Had plunged into his own sure death below. 

Vyv. A happy death, if it saved her he loved ! 

Alton. A midnight grave concealed the mangled clay, 
And buried the bride's secret. Few nights after, 
Darkly as life from him had passed away, 
Life dawned. on thee — and, from the unconscious mother, 
Stern hands conveyed the pledge of fatal nuptials 
To the poor priest, who to thy loftier kindred 
Owed the mean roof that sheltered thee. 



aci in. 25 

Vyv. Oh, say 

I have a mother still ! 
Alton. Yes ! 

Vyv. (ivithjoy). Oh! 

Alton. She survived — 

Her vows, thy birth, by the blind world ungues^sed ; 

And, after years of woe and vain resistance, 

Forced to a lordlier husband's arms. 
Vyv. " My soul 

Ofttimes recalls a shadowy niournfulness, 

With woman's patient brow, and saddest tears 

Dropped fast from woman's eyes ; — they were my mother's. 
Alton. In stealth a wife — in stealth a mother ! yes, 

Then did she love thee, then aspired to own 

In coming times, and bade me hoard these proofs 

For that blest day." Alas ! new ties 

Brought new affections — to the second nuptials 

A second son was born ; she loved him better, 

Better than thee — than her own soul ! 
Vyv. Poor mother ! 

Alton. And haughtier thoughts on riper life arose, 

And worldly greatness feared the world's dread shame. 

And she forsook her visits to thy pillow, 

And the sire threatened, and the kinsman prayed, 

Till, over-urged by terror for thy safety, 

1 took reluctant vows to mask the truth 

And hush thy rights while lived thy mother's sire 

And he, her second unsuspecting lord. 

Thus thy youth, nameless, left my lonely roof, 

The sire and husband died while thou wert absent. 

Thou liv'st — thou hast returned ; mine oath is freed; 

These scrolls attest my tale and prove thy birthright — 

Hail, Lord of Beaufort — Heir of Montreville ! 
Vyv. 'Tis she — : tis she ! At the first glance I loved her ! 

And when I told my woes, she wept — she wept ! 

This is her writing. Look — look where she calls me 

" Edmond and child." Old man, how thou hast wronged her! 

Joy — joy '• I Ay to claim and find a mother ! 

[Exit Vyvyan, l. 1 k. 
Alton. Just power, propitiate Nature to that cry. 

"And from the hardened rock, let living streams 

Gush as in Horeb ! Ah, how faintly flags, 

Strained by unwonted action, weary age ! 

I'll seek the neighboring hamlet — rest and pray." 

[Exit Alton, r. 1 h. 

SCENE 11.— Castle Exterior as in Scene II, Act II. Sunset. 

Enter Sir Grey and Wrecklyffe, d. in 3 g. flat. 

Sir G. The priest has left his home ? 

Wreck. The hour I reached it. ' 

Sir G. With but one man 1 Did'st thou not hound the foot-track 1 

Wreck. I did. 

Sir G. Thou didst — and yet the prey escaped ! 

I have done. I gave thee thy soul's wish, revenge, 
Revenge on Vyvyan — and thou leav'st his way 



2§ THE RIGHTFUL HEIR. 

Clear to a height as high from thy revenge 

As is yon watch-tower from a pirate's gibbet. 

Wreck. Silence! thou 

Sir. G. {haughtily). Sir! 

Wreck, {subdued and cowed). Along the moors I track'd them. 

But only came in sight and reach of spring 

Just as "they gained the broad and thronging road, 
. Aloud with eager strides, and clamorous voices — 

A surge of t-umult, wave to wave re booming 
. How all the might of Parma and of Spain 

Hurried its thunders on. {gas gradually down during this scene.) 
Sir G. Dolt, what to us 

Parma and Spain 1 The beggar has no country ! 
Wreck. But deeds like that which thou dost urge me to 

Are not risked madly in the populous day. 

I come to thy sharp wit for safer orders. 
Sir G. My wit is dulled by time, and must be ground 

Into an edge by thought. Hist ! — the door jars, 

She comes. Skulk yonder — hide thee — but in call ! 

A moment sometimes makes or marreth fortune, 

Just as the fiend Occasion spr ings to hand — 

Be thou that fiend ! [Wrecklyffe exits up r. c. 

Enter Lady Montr eville, l. 1 e. 

Lady M. Look on me ! What, nor tremble 1 

Couldst thou have deemed my father's gold a bribe 

For my son's murder 1 Sold to pirates ! Cast 

On the wild seas ! 
Sir G. How ! I knew naught of this. 

If such the truth, peace to thy father's sins, 

For of those sins is this. Let the past sleep, 

Meet present ills — the priest hath left his home 

With Vy vyan's comrade, and our scheme is foiled. 
Lady M. I will, myself, see Alton on the morrow — 

Edmond can scarce forestall me ; for this night 

Fear sails with him to the far Indian main. 
Sir G. Let me do homage to thy genius. Sorceress, 

What was thy magic 1 
Lady M. Terror for my Clarence, 

And Edmond's love for Eveline. 
Sir G. {aside). I see ! 

Bribed by the prize of which she robs his rival ! 

This night — so soon 1 — this night — 
Lady M. I save m J Clarence ! 

Till then, keep close, close to his side. Thou hast soothed him ? 
Sir G. Fear not — these sudden tidings of the foe 

With larger fires have paled receding love — 

But where is Vyvyan ] 
Lady If. Doubtless with his crew, 

Preparing for departure. 
Lord B. {without This way, Marsden. 

Enter, l. 2 e., Lord Beaufort, with Marsden and armed Attendants: 

Lord B. 'Jon..') Repair you broken parapets at dawn ; 
Yonder the culverins —delve down more sharply 



ACT III. 27 

That bank ; — clear out the moat. Those trees — eh — Marsden, 
Should fall 1 They'd serve to screen the foe ! {comes to c.) Ah >(k 
mother, 

Make me a scarf to wear above the armor 
In which thy father, 'mid the shouts of kings, 
Shivered French lances at the Cloth of Gold. 
Mars. Nay, my young lord, too vast for you that armor. 
Lord B. No ; you forget that the breast swells in danger, 

And honor adds a cubit to the stature. 
Lady M. Embrace me, Clarence, I myself will arm thee. 

Look at him, Marsden — yet they say I spoil him ! 
Sir G. {draws Lady M. to l. c, and ivhispers). I mark i' the distance, 
swift disordered strides, 

And the light bound of an impatient spirit ; 

Vyvyan speeds hither, and the speed seems joy. 

He sought his crew — Alton might there await him. 
Lady M. His speed is to a bride. 
Sir G. Ay, true — old age 

Forgets that Love's as eager as Ambition ; 

Yet hold thyself prepared. 
Lady M. {to herself.) And if it were so ! 

Come, I will sound the depths of Beaufort's heart ! 

And, as that answers, hush or yield to conscience. 

Lead off these men. 

[Exeunt Sir Grey and Attendants, d. in 3 <3. ftai t 

{to Marsden) Go, meet my this day's guest, 

And see he enter through the garden postern. 

[Exit MarsdeTT, L. 1 B. 

Clarence, come back. 
Lord B. {jjeevishly.) What now? (r.) 
Lady M. Speak kindly, Clarence. 

Alas, thou'lt know not till the grave close o'er me, 

How I did need thy kindness ! 
Lord B. Pardon, mother, 

My blunt speech now, and froward heat this morning. 
Lady M. Be all such follies of the past, as leaves 

Shed from the petals of the bursting flower. 

Think thy soul slept, till honor's sudden dawn 

Flashed, and the soil bloomed with one hero more ! 

Ah, Clarence, .had I, too, an elder-born, 

As had thy father by his former nuptials ! — 

Could thy sword carve out fortune 1 
Lord B. Ay, my mother ! 

Lady M. " Well the bold answer rushes from thy lips ! " 

Yet, tell me frankly, dost thou not, in truth, 

Prize over much the outward show of things ; 

And couldst thou — rich with valor, health and beauty, 

And hope — the priceless treasure of the young — 

Couldst thou endure descent from that vain height 

Where pride builds towers the heart inhabits not j 

To live less gorgeously, and curb thy wants 

Within the state, not of the heir to earls, 

But of a simple gentleman 1 
Lord B. If reared to it, 

Perchance contented so ; but now — no, never ! 

Such as I am, thy lofty self hath made me ; 

Ambitious, haughty, prodigal ; and pomp 



28 THE RIGHTFUL HEIIL 

A pari of my very life. If I could fall 

From my high state, it were as Romans fell, 

On their swords' point ! 
Lady M. (in horror). Oh ! 

Lord B. Why is your cheek so hueless ? 

Why daunt yourself with airiest fantasies 1 

Who can deprive me of mine heritage — 

" The titles borne at Palestine and Crecy 1 

The seignory, ancient as the throne it guards," 

That will be mine in trust for sons unborn, 

When time — from this day may the date be far ! — % 

Transfers the circlet on thy stately brows 

(Forgive the boast !) to no unworthy heir. 
Lady M. (aside). My proud soul speaks in his, and stills remorse ; 

I'll know no other son ! Now go, Lord Beaufort. 
Lord B. So formal — fie! — has Clarence then offended'? 
Lady M. Offended 1 — thou ! Resume thy noble duties, 

Sole heir of Montreville ! [Exit Lord Beadfokt, l. 2 e. 

My choice is made. 

As one who holds a fortress for his king, 

I guard this heart for Clarence, and I close 

Its gates against the stranger. Let him come. 

[Exit, L. 1. E. 

Enter, d. in 3 G.jlat, Vyvyan and Eveline. 

Eyel. I would not bid thee stay, thy country calls thee— 

But thou bast stunned my heart i' the midst of joy 

With this dread sudden word — part — part ! 
Vyv. Live not 

In the brief present. Go forth to the future ! 

Wouldst thou not see me worthier of thy love 1 
Evel. Thou canst not be so. 
Vyv. Sweet one, I am now 

Obscure and nameless. What if at thy feet 

I could lay rank and fortune 1 
Evel. These could give 

To me no bliss save as they bless thyself. 

Into the life of him she loves, the life 

Of woman flows, and nevermore reflects 

Sunshine or shadow on a separate wave. 

Be his lot great, for his sake she loves greatness ; 

Humble — a cot with him is Arcady ! 

Thou art ambitious ; thou wouldst arm for fame, 

Fame then fires me too, and without a tear 

I bid thee go where fame is w T on — as now : 

Win it and I rejoice ; but fail to win, 

Were it not joy to think I could console 1 
Vyv. Oh, that I could give vent to this full heart ! 

Time rushes on, each glimmering star rebukes me — 

Is that the Countess yonder ? This way — come, (up c.) 

[Moonlight falls on l. side now. 

Enter Lord Beaufort and Sir Grey, l. 1 e. 

Lord B. Leave England, say'st thou— and with her 1 

Sl R G. Thou hast wrung 



ACT III. 29 

The secret from me. Mark— I have thy promise 

Not to betray me to thy mother. 
Lord B. Ah ! 

Thought she to dupe me with that pomp of words, 

And blind ambition while she beggar'd life 1 

No, by yon heavens, she shall not so befool me ! 
Sir G. Be patient. Had I guessed how this had galled, 

I had been dumb. 
Lord B. Stand from the light ! Distraction ! 

She hangs upon his breast ! -{hurries to Vyvyan, and then un- 
covering with an attempt at courtesy, draws him to front.) 
Lord B. Sir, one word with you. 

This day such looks and converse passed between us 

As men who wear these vouchers for esteem, 

Cancel with deeds. 
Vyv. (aside). The brave boy ! How I love him ! 

Lord B. What saidst thou, sir ? 
Evel. (approaching). Oh, Clarence. 

Lord B. Fear not, cousin. 

I do but make excuses for my rudeness 

At noon, to this fair cavalier. 
Sir G. If so, 

Let us not mar such courteous purpose, lady. 
Evel. But — 

Sir G. Nay, you are too timid ! (draws Eveline up l } 

Lord B. Be we brief. 'sir. 

You quit these parts to-night. This place beseems not 

The only conference we should hold. I pray you 

Name spot and hour in which to meet again, 

Unwitnessed save by the broad early moon. 
Vyv. Meet thee again — oh, yes ! 
Lord B. There speaks a soldier, 

And now I own an equal. Hour and place 1 

Vyv. Wait here till I have 

Lord B. No, sir, on thy road. 

Here we are spied. 
Vyv. So be it, on my road. 

(aside) [There where I learned that heaven had given a brother, 

There the embrace.] Within the hour I pass 

St. Kinan's Cliff. 
Lord B. Alone 1 

Vyv. Alone. 

Lord B. Farewell! 
Sir. G. (catching at Lord Beaufort as lie goes out.) I heard St 

Kinian's Cliff. I'll warn the Countess. 
Lord B. Do it, and famish ! 

Sir G. Well, thy fence is skillful. 

Lord B. And my hand firm. 
SirG. But when? 

Lord B. Within the hour ! 

[Exit Lord Beaufort, l. 1 E. 
Evel. I do conjure thee on thine honor, Vyvyan, 

Hath he not — 
Vyv. What? (r. c.) 

Evel. Forced quarrel on thee 1 (c.) 

Vyv. Quarrel 

That were beyond his power. Upon mine honor, 
No, and thrice no ! 



30 TI1 E BIGHTFCT. HEIE. 

Evel. I scarce dare yet believe thee. 

Vyv. Why then, I thus defy thee still to tremble. 

Away this weapon, {throning sword off r. 1 e.) If I meet thy 
cousin, 

Both must be safe, for one will be unarmed. 
Evel. Mine own frank hero-lover, pardon me ; 

Yet need st thou not » 

Vyv. Oh, as against the Spaniard, 

There will be swords enow in Vyvyan's war-ship— 

But' art thou sure his heart is touched so lightly % 
Evel. Jealous, and now ! 
Vyv. No, the fair boy, 'tis pity ! 

Enter Marsden, l. 2 e., 

Mars.* My lady, sir, invites you to her presence; 

Pray you this way. 
Evel. Remember — 0, remember, 

One word again, before we part ; but one ! 
Vyv. One word. Heaven make it joyous. 
Evel. Joyous ! 

Vyv. Soft, let me take that echo from thy lips 

As a good omen. How my loud heart beats ! {aside.') 

Friend, to yoxxv lady. [Exeunt Vyvyax and Marsden, L. 1 E. 
Evel. Gone ! The twilight world 

Hath its stars still — but mine ! Ah, woe is me ! 

[Exit Eveline, l. 1 e. 
Sir G. Why take the challenge, yet cast off the weapon 1 

Perchance, if, gentle, he forbears the boy ; 

" Perchance, if worldly wise, he fears the noble ; 

Or hath he, in his absence, chanced with Alton 1 

It matters not. Like some dark necromancer, 

I raise the storm, then rule it thro' the fiend! 

Where waits this man without a hope 1 
Wreck, (coming down a). Save vengeance ! 

Sir G. Wert thou as near when Beaufort spoke with Vyvyan 1 
Wreck. Shall I repeat what Vyvyan said to Beaufort ^ 

Sir G. Thou know'st • 

Wreck. 1 know, that to St. Kinian's Cliff 

Will come the man whose band wrote " felon" here. 

(touches face.) 
Sir G. Mark, what I ask is harder than to strike ; 

'Tis to forbear — but 'tis revenge with safety. 

Let Vyvyan first meet Beaufort ; watch what pass, 

And if the boy, whose hand obeys all passion, 

Should slay thy foeman, and forestall thy vengeance, 

Upon thy life (thou know'st, of old, Grey Malpas) 

Prevent not, nor assist. 
Wreck. That boy slay Vyvyan ! 

Sir G. For Vyvyan is unarmed. 

Wreck. Law calls that — murder ! 

Sir G. Which by thy witness, not unbacked by proof, 

Would give the murderer to the headsman's axe, 

And leave Grey Malpas heir of Montreville, 

And thee the richest squire in all his train. 



*Vyvyan. Evel. Marsden. Sir Grey. 

c. l., up. 



ACT IT. 31 

Wreck. I do conceive the scheme. But if the youth 

Fail or relent ■ 

Sir G. I balk not thy revenge. 

And, if the corpse of Beaufort's rival be 

Found on the spot where armed Beaufort met him, 

To whom would justice track the death blow 1 — Beaufort! 
Wreck. No further words. Or his, or mine the hand, 

Count one life less on earth ; and weave thy scheme — 

As doth the worm its coils — around the dead. 

[Exit Wrecklyffe, d. in 3 g. flat. 
Sir G. " One death avails as three, since for the mother 

Conscience and shame were sharper than the steel." 

So, I o'erleap the gulf, nor gazs below. 

On this side, desolate ruin ; bread begrudged ; 

And ribald scorn on impotent gray hairs ; 

The base poor cousin Boyhood threats with famine — 

Whose very dog is butchered if it bark : — 

On that side bended knees and fawning smiles, 

Ho ! ho ! there — Boom for my lord's knights and pages ! 

Boom at the Court — room there, beside the throne! 

Ah, the new Earl of Montreville ! His lands 
. Cover two shires. Such man should rule the state — 

A gracious lord — the envious call him old ; 

Not so — the coronet conceals gray hairs. 

He limp'd, they say, when he wore hose of serge. 

Tut, the slow march becomes the robes of ermine. 

Back, conscience, back ! Go scowl on boors and beggars— 

Eoom, smiling flatterers, room for the new Earl ! 

^- (comes down fronts -proudly ', as falls the) 

CURTAIN. 



ACT IV. 

SCENE I.— Same as Scene I., Act JX.\ 

Discover Lady Montreville, r. Enter Vyvyan, l. 

Lady M. Thou com'st already to demand thy bride 1 
Vyv. Alas ! such nuptials are deferred. This night 

The invader summons me — my sole bride, Honor, 

And my sole altar — England ! (aside) How to break if? 
Lady M. My Clarence on the land, and thou on sea, 

Both for their country armed ! Heaven shield ye both ! 
Vyv. Say you that ? Both ? — You who so love your son % 
Lady M. Better than life, I love him ! 
Vyv. (aside). I must rush 

Into the thick. Time goads me ! (aloud) Had you not 

Another son 1 A first born 1 
Lady M. Sir ! 

Vyv. A son, 

On whom those eyes dwelt first — whose infant cry 

Broke first on that divine and holiest chord 



32 THE HIGHTFFL IIEIE. 

In the deep heart of woman, which awakes 

All Nature's tenderest music 1 Turn not from me 

I know the mystery of thy mournful life. 

Will it displease thee — will it — to believe 

That son is living still 1 
Lady M. Sir — sir — such license 

Expels your listener, (turns r.) 
Vyv. No, thou wilt not leave me 1 

I say, thou wilt not leave me — on my knees 

I say, thou shalt not leave me ! 
Lady M. Loose thine hold ! 

Vyv. Jam thy son — thine Edmond — thine own child ! 

Saved from the steel, the deep, the storm, the battle ; 

Rising from death to thee — the source of life ! 

Flung by kind Heaven once more upon thy breast, 

Kissing thy robe, and clinging to thy knees. 

Dost thou 'reject thy son 1 
Lady M. I have no son, 

Save Clarence Beaufort. 
Yyv. Do not — do not hear her, 

Thou who, enthroned amid the pomp of stars, 

Dost take no holier name than that of Father ! 

Thou hast no other son 1 0, cruel one ! 

Look — look — these letters to the priest who reared him— 

See where thou call'st him " Edmond ' ; — " child " — <: life's all ! " 

Can the words be so fresh on this frail record, 

Yet fade, obliterate from the undying soul 1 

By these — by these — by all the solemn past, 

By thy youth's lover — by his secret grave, 

By every kiss upon thine infant's cheek — 

By every tear that wept his fancied death — 

Grieve not that still a first-born calls thee " mother ! 
Lady INI. Rise. If these prove that such a son once lived, 

Where are your proofs that still he lives in you 1 
Yyv. There ! in thine heart ! — thine eyes that dare not face me ! 

Thy trembling limbs, each power, each pulse of being, 

That vibrates at my voice ! Let pride encase thee 

With nine-fold adamant, it rends asunder 

At the great spell of Nature — Nature calls 

Parent, come forth ! 
Lady M. {aside) Resolve gives way ! Lost Clarence ! 

What ! " Fall as Romans fell, on their swords' point 1 " 

No, Clarence, no ! {turning fiercely) Imposter ! If thy craft 

Hath, by suborning most unworthy spies, 

Sought in the ruins of a mourner's life 

Some base whereon to pile this labored falsehood, 

Let law laugh down the fable — Quit my presence. 
Vyv. No. I will not. 
Lady M. Will not ! Ho ! 

Vyv. Call your hirelings, 

And let them hear me. (to r. c.) Lo, beneath thy roof, 

And on the sacred hearth of sires to both, 

Under their 'scutcheon, and before their forms 

Which from the ghostly canvas I invoke 

To hail their son — I take my dauntless stand, 

Armed with my rights ; now bid your menials thrust 

From his own hearth the heir of Montreville ! 



ACT IV. S3 



Enter Servants, i. 

Lady M. Seize on (clasping her hands before her face.') 

Out — out' {aside ) His father stands before me 
In the son's image No. I dare not t 
PrRST Servant. Madam, 

Did you not summon U3 * 
Vyv. They wait your mandate, 

Lady of MoutrevilJe. 
Lady M. 1 caiied not. Go ! 

[Exeunt SERVANTS, L. 

Art thou ray son % If so, have mercy, Edraond ! 

Let Heaven attest with what remorseful soul 

I yielded to my ruthless fathers will, 

And with cold lips profaned a second vow. 

I had a child — I was a parent true ; 

But exiled from the parent s paradise. 

Not mine the frank jov in the face of day. 

The pride, the boast, the triumph, aud the rapture; 

Thy couch was sought as with a felon s step, 

And whispering nature shuddered at detection. 

Ah, could'st thou grams what hell to loftier minds 

It is to live in one eternal Jie 

Yet, spite of all, how dear thou wert ! 
Vyv. I was "? 

Is the time past forever '« What my sin 1 
Lady M. I loved thee till another son was born, 

A blossom 'mid the snows. Thou wert afar, 

Seen rarely — alien — on a stranger's breast 

Leaning for life, (with great feeling) 'But this thrice-blessed one 

Smiled in mine eyes, took being from my breast, 

Slept in mine arms ; here love asked no concealment — 

Here the tear shamed not — here the kiss was glory — 

Here I put on my royalty of woman — 

The guardian, the protector ; food, health, life — 

It clung to me for all. Mother and child, 

Each was the all to each. 
Vyv. 0, prodigal, 

Such wealth to him, yet naught to spare to me ! 
Lady M My boy grew up, my Clarence. Looking on him 

Men prized his mother more — so fair and stately, 

And the world deemed to such high state the heir ! 

Years went ; they told me that by Nature's death 

Thou hadst in boyhood passed away to heaven. 

I wept thy fate ; and long ere tears were dried, 

The thought that danger, too, expired for Clarence, 

Bid make thy memory gentle. f 

Vyv. Do you wish 

That I were still what once you wept to deem me % 
Lady M I did rejoice when my lip kissed thy brow; 

I did rejoice to give thy heart its bride ; 

I would have drained my coffers for her dowry; 

But wouldst thou ask me if I can rejoice 

That a life rises from the grave abrupt 

To doom the life I cradled, reared, and wrapt 

From every breeze, to desolation 1 — No ! 



34 THE RIGHTFUL HEIR. 

Vyv. What would you have me do 1 

Lady M. Accept the dowry, 

And. blest with Eveline's love, renounce thy mother. 

Vyv Renounce thee ! No — these lips belie not Nature ! 
Never ' 

Lady M. Enough — I can be mean no more. 

E'en in the prayer that asked his life. Go, slay it. 

Vyv. Why must my life slay his 1 

Lady M. Since his was shaped 

To soar to power — not grovel to dependence — 
And I do seal his death-writ when I say, 
" Down to the dust, Usurper ; bow the knee 
And sue for alms to the true Lord of Beaufort.'' 
Those words shall not be said — I'll find some nobler. , 
Thy rights are clear. The law might long defer them— 
I do forestall the law. These lands be thine. 
Wait not my death to lord it in my hall : 
Thus I say not to Clarence, ; ' Be dependent'' — 
But I can say, " Share poverty with me." 
I go to seek him ; at his side depart ; 
He spurns thine alms : I wronged thee — take thy vengeance ! 

Vyv. Merciless — hold, and hear me — I — alms ! — vengeance ! — 
True — true, this heart a mother never cradled, 
Or she had known it better. 

Lady M. Edmond ! 

Vyv. Hush ! 

Call me that name no more — it dies forever! 
Nay, I renounce thee not, for that were treason 
On the child s lip. Parent, renounce — thy — child ! 
As for these nothings, (giving papers) take them ; if you dread 
To find words, once too fond, they're blurr'd already — 
You'll see but tears : tears of such sweetness, madam. 
I did not think of lands and halls, pale Countess, 
I did but think — these arms shall clasp a mother. 
" Now they are worthless — take them. Never guess 
How covetous I was — how hearts, cast off, 
Pine for their rights— rights not of parchment, lady." 
Part we, then, thus 1 No, put thine arms around me ; 
Let me remember in the years to come, 
That I have lived to say, a mother blessed me ! (foieels.) 

Lady M. Oh, Edmond, Edmond, thou hast conquered ! 

Thy father's voice !— his eyes ! Look down from heaven, 
Bridegroom, and pardon me ; I bless thy child ! 

Vyv. Hark ! she has blessed her son ! It mounts to heaven, 
The blessing of the mother on her child ! 
Mother, and mother ; — how the word thrills thro' me ! 
Mother again, dear mother ! Place thy hand 
Here — on my heart. Now thou hast felt it beat, 
Wilt thou misjudge it more 1 

Lady M. Oh ! 

Vyv. Reeoil'st thou still 1 

Lady M. (breaking from him). What have I done ? — betrayed, con- 
demned. my Clarence! (to n., franticalhj.) 

Vyv. (c). Condemned thy Clarence ! By thy blessing, No ! 
That blessing was my birthright. I have won 
That which I claimed. Give Clarence all the rest. 
Silent, as sacred, be the memory 



act iv. 35 

Of this atoning hour. Look, evermore (kissing Iter) 
Thus — thus I seal the secret of thy first-born ! 
Now, only Clarence lives ! Heaven guard thy Clarence ! 
Now deem me dead to thee. Farewell, farewell ! 

[Exit Vyvyast, l. 
Lady M. (rushing after him). Hold, hold — too generous, hold ! Como 
back, my son! {Exit Lady Montreville, l. 

Scene changes to 
SCENE II. — Sea and Rocks in 4th grooves. 
Enter Lord Beaufort,' l. 1 e. 

Lord B. And still not here ! The hour has long since passed. 
I'll climb yon tallest peak, and strain mine eyes 
Down the sole path between the cliff and ocean. 

(goes up steps r., and off n. 2 E.) 

Enter Wrecklyffb, l. 1 e. 

Wreck. The boors first grinned, then paled, and crer/fc away ; 

The tavern-keeper slunk, and muttered " Hangdog ! " 

And the she-drudge whose rough hand served the drink, 

Stifled her shriek, and let the tankard fall ! 

It was not so in the old merry days : 

Then the scarred hangdog was " fair gentleman." 

And — but the reckoning waits. Why tarries he 1 (beat on bass 
drum, with diminuendo beats, for signal gun } and its echoes.) 

A signal ! Ha ! 
Vyv. (off-L.). , I come, I come! 

Wreck, (grasping his cutlass, but receding as he sees Beaufort enter 

r. 1 e.) Hot lordling ! 

I had well night forestalled thee. Patience ! 

[Exit around set rock, l. C. 
Lord B. (r. 2 e., on platform.) Good ! 

From crag to crag he bounds — my doubts belied him ; 

His haste is eager as my own. 

Enter Vyvyan, l. 1 e., crossing and going up r. steps. 

Sir, welcome. 
(both on first platform, r. u. E.) 
Vyv. Stay me not, stay me not ! Thou hast all else 

But honor — rob me not of that ! Unhand me ! 
Lord B. Unhand thee ? yes — to take thy ground and draw. 
Vyv. Thou know'st not what thou sayest. Let me go ! 
Lord B. Thyself didst name the place and hour : 
Vyv. For here 

I thought to clasp — (aside) I have no brother now ! 
Lord B. He thought to clasp his Eveline. Death and madness ! 
Vyv. Eveline ! Thou lov'st not Eveline. " Be consoled. 

Thou hast not known affliction — hast not stood 

Without the porch of the sweet home of men ; 

Thou hast leaned upon no reed that pierced the heart; 

Thou hast not known what it is, when in the desert 



36 TIIE RIGHTFUL HEIK. 

The hopeless find the fountain." Happy boy, 
Thou hast not loved. Leave love to man and sorrow! 
Lord B. Dost thou presume upon my years ? Dull scoffer! 
The brave is man betimes — the coward never. 
Boy if I be, my playmates have been veterans ; 
My toy a sword, and my first lesson valor. 
And, had I taken challenge as thou hast, 
And on the ground replied to bold defiance 
With random words implying dastard taunts, 
" With folded arms, pale lip, and haggard brow," 
I'd never live to call myself a man. 
Thus says the boy, since manhood is so sluggard, 
Soldier and captain. Do not let me strike thee ! 
Vyv. Do it, — and tell thy mother, when thy hand 

Outraged my cheek, I pardoned thee, and pitied. 
Lord B. Measureless insult ! Pitied ! {drum for gun as before.') 
Vyv. There again ! 

And still so far ! Out of my path, insane one! 

Were there naught else, thy youth, thy mother's love 

Should make thee sacred to a warrior's arm — 

Out of my path. Thus, then, (suddenly lifts, and puts him aside.) 

Oh, England — England ! 
Do not reject me too ! — I come ! I come ! 

{up the steps to tipper platform.) 
Lord B. Thrust from his pathway — every vein runs fire ! 
Thou shalt not thus escape me — Stand or die ! 

{sword in hand, drives Vyvyan to the edge of the cliff, and he 
grasps, for support, the bough of tree.) 
Vyv. Forbear, forbear ! 

Lord B. Thy blood on thine own head ! {drum for gun 

as before. As Beaufort lifts his sicord and strikes, Vyvyan 

retreats — the bough breaks, and Vyvyan swings L., and down 

into centre trap.) 

Wreck, {rises r. c. by trap). Is the deed done 7 If not, this steel 

completes it. (waves cutlass and exit down trap. Lord 

Beaufort sinks on his knee in horror. Work ship on r. to 

L., across.) 

SLOW CURTAIN. 



ACT V. 

SCENE I.— Same as Act IV., Scene II. 

Enter Sir Grey de Malfas, l., leaning on cane. 

Sir G. A year — and Wrecklyffe still is mute and absent, 
Even as Vyvyan is ' Most clear ! He saw, 
And haply shared, the murderous deed of Beaufort; 
And Beaufort's wealth hath bribed him to desert 
Penury and me. That Clarence slew his brother 
I cannot doubt. He shuts me from his presence ; 
But I have watched him, wandering, lone, yet haunted- 



act v. 37 

Marked the white lip and glassy eyes of one 

For whom the grave has ghosts, and silence, horror. 

His mother, on vague pretext of mistrust 

That 1 did sell her first-born to the pirate. 

Excludes me from her sight, but sends me alms 

Lest the world cry, ' : See, her poor cousin starves ! " 

Can she guess Beaufort's guilt 1 Nay ! For she lives ! 

I know that deed, which, told unto the world, 

Would make me heir of Montreville. 0, mockery ! 

For how proceed ? — no proof ! How charge 1 — no witness ! 

How cry, " Lo ! murder! " yet produce no corpse ! 

Enter Alton, r. 

Alton. Sir Grey de Malpas ! I was on my way 

To your own house. 
Sir G. Good Alton — can I serve you 1 

Alton. The boy I took from thee, returned a man 

Twelve months ago: mine oath absolved. 
Sir G. 'Tis true. 

Alton. Here did I hail the rightful lord of Montreville, 

And from these arms he rushed to claim his birthright. 
Sir G. (aside). She never told me this. 
Alton. That night his war-ship 

Sailed to our fleet. I deemed him with the battle. 

Time went ; Heaven's breath had scattered the Armada. 

I sate at my porch to welcome him — he came not 

I said, " His mother has abjured her offspring, 

And law detains him while he arms for justice." 

Hope sustained patience till to-day. 
Sir G. To-day 1 

Alton. The very friend who had led me to his breast 

Returns, and 

Sir G. {soothingly.') Well 1 

Alton. He fought not with his country. 

Sir G. And this cold friend lets question sleep a year 1 
Alton. His bark too rashly chased the flying foe ; 

Was wrecked on hostile shores ; and he a prisoner. 
Sir G. Lean on my arm, thou'rt faint. 
Alton. Oh, Grey de Malpas, 

Can men so vanish — save in murderous graves'? 

You turn away. 
Sir G. What murder without motive 1 

And who had motive here ? 
Alton. Unnatural kindred. 

Sir G. Kindred ! Ensnare me not ! Mine, too, that kindred. 

Old man, beware how thou asperse (pause) Lord Beaufort ! 
Alton. Beaufort ! Oh, horror ! How the instinctive truth 

Starts from thy lips ! 
Sir G. From mine ? 

Alton. Yes. Not of man 

Ask pardon, if accomplice 

Sir G. I, accomplice ! 

Nay, since 'tis my good name thou sulliest now— 

This is mine answer : Probe ; examine ; search j 

And call on justice to belie thy slander. 

Go, seek the aid of stout Sir Godfrey Seymour ; 



38 



THE MGHTFUL HEIR. 



A dauntless magistrate ; strict, upright, honest ; 

{aside). At heart a Puritan, and hates a Lord, 

With other slides that fit into mv grooves. 
Alton. He bears with ail the righteous name thou giv'st him, 

Thy zeal acquits thyself. 
Sir G. Ancl charges none. 

Alton. Heaven reads the heart. Man can but irack the deed. 

My task is stern. [Exit Alton, l. 

Sir G. Scent lies — suspicion dogs, 

And with hot breath pants on the flight of conscience. 

Ah f who comes here 1 Sharp wit, round all occasion ! 

Enter Falkner with Sailors, l. 

Falk. Learn all you can — when latest seen, and where — 

Meanwhile I seek yon towers. [Exeunt Sailors, l. 

Sir G. Doubtless, fair sir, 

I speak to Vyvyan's friend. My name is Malpas — 
Can it be true, as Alton doth inform me, 
That you suspect your comrade died by murder % 

Falk. Murder ! 

Sir G. And by a rival's hand ? Amazed ! 

Yet surely so I did conceive the priest. 

Falk. Murder! — a rival !— true, he loved a maiden! 

Sir G. In yonder halls ! 

Falk. Despair ! Am I too late 

For all but vengeance ! Speak, sir— who this rival 1 

Sir G. Vengeance ! — fie — seek those towers, and learn compassion. 
Sad change indeed, since here, at silent night, 
Your Vyvyan met the challenge of Lord Beaufort. 

Falk. A challenge 1 — here 1 — at night ? 

Sir G. Yes, this the place. 

How sheer the edge ! crag, cave, and chasm below ! 
If the foot slipped, — nay, let us think slipped heedless,— 
Or some weak wounded man were headlong plunged, 
What burial place more secret 1 

Falk. Hither, look ! 

Look where, far down the horrible descent, 
Through some fresh cleft rush subterranean waves, 
How wheel and circle ghastly swooping wings ! 

Sir G. The sea-gulls ere a storm, 

Falk. No! Heaven is clear ! 

The storm they tell, speeds lightning towards the guilty. 
So have I seen the foul birds in lone creeks 
Sporting around the shipwrecked seaman's bones. 
Guide me, ye spectral harbingers ! (down c trap. Music.) 

Sir G. From bough 

To bough he swings — from peak to slippery peak 
I see him dwindling down ; — the loose stones rattle ; 
He falls— he falls— but 'lights on yonder ledge, 
And from the glaring sun turns steadfast eyes 
N Where still the sea-gulls wheel ; now crawls, now leaps ; 
Crags close around him — not a glimpse nor sound ! 
0, diver for the dead ! (sinks down as if watching Falkner ; 

then rises) Bring up but bones, 
And round the skull I'll wreathe my coronet. [Exit, r. 



ACT v. 39 

Scene changes to 

SCENE II. — Interior in 1st grooves. 

Enter Lady Montreville and Marsden, l. 

Lady M. Will he nor hunt nor hawk? This constant gloom! 

Canst thou not guess the cause 1 He was so joyous ! 
Mars. Young plants need air and sun ; man's youth the world. 

Young men should pine for action. Comfort, madam, 

The cause is clear, if you recall the date. 
Lady- M. Thou hast marked the date 1 

Mars. Since that bold seaman's visit. 

Lady M. Thy tongue runs riot, man. How should that stranger — 

I say a stranger, strike dismay in Beaufort? 
Mars. Dismay ! Not that, but emulation! 
Lady M. Ay! 

You speak my thoughts, and I have prayed our Queen 

To rank your young lord with her chivalry ; 

This day mine envoy should return. 
Mars. This day? 

Let me ride forth and meet him ! 
Lady M. Go ! [Exit Marsden, l. 

'Tis true ! 

Such was the date. Hath Clarence guessed the secret — 

Guessed that a first-born lives 1 I dread to question! 

Yet sure the wronged was faithful, and the wrong 

Is my heart's canker-worm and gnaws unseen. 

Where wanderest thou, sad Edmond 1 Not one word 

To say thou liv'st — thy very bride fqrsaken, 

As if love, frozen at the parent well-spring, 
. Left every channel dry ! What hollow tread, 

Heavy and weary falls 1 Is that the step 

Which touched the mean earth with a lightsome scorn, 

As if the air its element 1 

Enter, Beaufort, r., in mantle. 

Lord B. Cold! cold! ' 

And yet I saw the beggar doff his frieze, 

Warm in his rags. I shiver under ermine. 

For me 'tis never summer — never — never ! 
Lady M. How fares my precious one 1 
Lord B. Well ; — but so cold. 

Ho ! there ! without ! 

I 

Enter Servant, l. | 

Wine ! wine ! [Exit Servant, l. 

Lady M. Alas ! alas ! 

Why, this is fever — thy hand burns. 
Lord B. That hand ! 

Ay, that hand always burns. 

Re-enter Servant, l., with wine in goblet, on salver. 
Look you — the cup 



40 THE HiGHTFCL HEIE. 

The wondrous Tuscan jeweller, Cellini, 

Made for a kins ! A king's gift to thy father ! 

What 1 Serve such gauds to me ! 
Lady M. Thyself so ordered 

In the proud whims thy light heaTt made so graceful. 
Lord B. Was I proud once 'I Ha ! ha ! what's this 1 — not wine 1 
Servant. The Malvoisie your lordship's friends, last year, 

Esteemed your rarest. 
Lord B. How one little year 

Hath soured it into nausea ! Faugh — 'tis rank. 
Lady M. (to Servant). Send for the leech — quick — go. 

[Exit Servant, l. 
Oh, Clarence ! Clarence ! 

Is this the body's sickness, or the soul's 1 

Is it life's youngest sorrow, love misplaced 1 

Thou dost not still love Eveline 1 
Lord B. Did I love her 1 

Lady M. Or one whose birth might more offend my pride? 

Well, I am proud. But I would hail as daughter 

The meanest maiden from whose smile thy lip 

Caught smiles again. Thy smile is day to me. 
Lord B. Poor mother, fear not. Never hermit-monk, 

Gazing on skulls in lone sepulchral cells, 

Had heart as proof to woman's smile as mine. 
Lady M. The court — the camp — ambition 

Enter Marsden, ivith a letter, r. 

Mars. From the Queen ! 

(while the Countess reads, Marsden, turning to Lord Beaupoet) 
My dear young lord, be gay ! The noblest knight, 
In all the land, Lord Essex, on his road 
From conquered Cadiz, "with the armed suite 
That won his laurels," sends before to greet you, 
And prays you will receive him in your halls. 

Lord B. The flower of England's gentry, spotless Essex ! 
Sully him not, old man, bid him pass on. 

Lady M. Joy, Beaufort, joy ! August Elizabeth 

Owns thee her knight, and bids thee wear her colors, 
And break thy maiden lance for England's lady. 

Lord B. I will not go. Barbed steeds and knightly banners*— 
Baubles and gewgaws ! 

Mars. Glorious to the younsr. 

Lord B. Ay — to the young ! Oh, when did poet dreams 
Ever shape forth such a fairy land as youth ! 
Gossamer hopes, pearled with the dews of morn, 
Gay valor, bounding light on welcome peril, — 
Errors themselves, the sparkling overflow, 
Of life as headlong, but as pure as streams 
That rush from sunniest hill-tops kissing heaven,— 
Lo ! that is youth. Look on my soul, old man, 
Well — is it not more gray than those blanched hairs ? (falls in 
seat, c.) 

Lady M. He raves. Heed not his words. Go speed the leech ! 

[Exit Marsden, r., quickly, 
(aside). I know these signs — by mine own soul I know them j 
.This is nor love, nor honor's sigh for action, 



ACT V. £i 

Nor Nature's milder suffering. This is guilt ! 

Clarence— now, side by side, I sit with thee ! 

Put thine arms round me, lean upon my breast 

It is a mother's breast. So, that is well ; 

Now — whisper low — what is thy crime ] 
Lord B. {bursting into tears). Oh, mother I 

Would thou hadst never borne me ! 
Lady M. Ah, ungrateful ! 

Lord B. No — for thy sake I speak. Thou — justly proud, 

For thou art pure ; thou, on whose whitest name 

Detraction spies no soil — dost thou say " crime" 

Unto thy son ; and is his answer tears 1 

Enter Eveline, r., weaving floicers as in Act L 

Evel. Blossoms, I weave ye 

To drift on the sea, 
Say when ye find him 
Who sang : ' Woe is me ! " 
{approaching Beaufort) Have you no news ? 
Lord B. Of whom ? 

Evel. Of Vyvyan 1 

Lord B. That name ! Her reason wanders ; and oh, mother, 

When that name's uttered — so doth mine — hush, hush it. 

(Eveline goes to window, and throws garland through) 
Lady M. Kill me at once — or when I ask again, 

What is thy crime 1 — reply, " No harm to Vyvyan ! " 
Lord B. {breaking away). Unhand me ! Let me go ! 

[Exit Lord Beaufort, l., wildly. 
Lady M. This pulse beats still* 

Nature rejects me ! 
Evel. Come, come — see the garland, 

It dances on the waves so merrily. 

Enter Marsden, r. 

Mars, {drawing aside Lady M.). Forgive this haste. Amid St, Kini- 
an's Cliffs 

Where, once an age, on glassy peaks may glide 

The shadow of a man, a stranger venturing 

Hath found bleached human bones, and to your hall, 

Nearest at hand, and ever famed for justice, 

Leads on the crowd, and saith the dead was Vyvyan. 
Evel. Ha ! who named Vyvyan 1 Has he then come back 1 
Mars. Fair mistress, no. 
Lady M. If on this terrible earth 

Pity lives still — lead her away. Be tender. 
Evel, {approaching Lady M.), I promised him to love you as a mo- 
ther. 

Kiss me, and trust in Heaven! He will return ! 

[Exeunt Eveuxe. and Marsdes, 
Lady M. These horrors are unreal. 

Enter Servant, r. 
Servant. Noble mistress. 



42 l' HE EIGHTFUL HEIE. 

Sir Godfrey Seymour, summoned here in haste, 

Craves your high presence in the Justice Hall. 
Lady M. Mine — mine 1 Where goest thou 1 
Servant. Sir Godfrey bade me 

Seek ni3 T young lord. 
Lady M. Stir not. My son is ill. 

Thyself canst witness how the fever — {hurrying r.) Marsden ! 

Enter Marsden, r. 

My stricken Clarence ! — In his state, a rumor 

Of — of what passes here, might blast life — reason : 

Go, lure him hence — if he resist, use force 

As to a maniac. Ah! good old man, thou lov'st him; 

His innocent childhood played around thy knees — 

I know I can trust thee — Quick — speak not : — Save ! 

[Exit Marsden, l. 
{to Servant) Announce my coming. [Exit Servant, r. 

This day, life to shield 
The living son : — Death, with the dead, to-morrow ! 

[Exit Lady Montreville, r. 

SCENE III.— Castle Kail, in 5th grooves. 

Discover Sir Godfrey Seymour seated, l. Clerk, at table, employed in 
writing. Sir Grey de Malpas standing up l., near Sir Godfrey. 
Falkner, l. c. Halberdiers, Servants. 

Sir Godf. (to Falkner). Be patient, sir, and give us ampler proof 

To deem yon undistinguishable bones 

The relics of your friend. 
Falk. That gentleman 

Can back my oath, that these, the plume, the gem 

"Which Vyvyan wore — I found them on the cliff. 
Sir Godf. Verily, is it so 1 
Sir G. {with assumed reluctance'). Sith law compel me— 

Yes, I must vouch it. 

Enter Servant, r. 2 e. 

Servant (placing a chair of state). Sir, my lady comes. 

Sir G. And her son. 

Enter, r. 2 e., Lady Montreville, and scats herself, r. c. 

Sir Godf. You pardon, madam, mine imperious duties, 

And know my dismal task 

Lady M. Pray you be brief, sir. 

Sir Godf. Was, this time year, the captain of a war-ship, 

Vyvyan his name, your guest 1 
Lady M. But one short day — 

To see my ward, whom he had saved from pirates. 
Sir Godf. I pray you, madam, in his converse with you 

Spoke he of any foe, concealed or open, 

Whom he had cause to fear % 
Lady M. Of none ! 

Sir Godf. Nor know you 

Of any such 1 



ACT Y. 43 

Lady M. {after a pause). I do not. 

Sir Godf. {aside to Falkner). Would you farther 

Question this lady, sir 1 
Falk. No. she is a woman, 

And mother ; let her go. I wait Lord Beaufort. 
Sir Godf. Madam, no longer will we task your presence. 

Enter Lord Bbadfort, d. in f., breaking from Marsden, and other At- 
tendants. 

Lord B. Off, dotard, off! Guests in our hall! 

Lady M. He is ill. 

Sore ill — fierce fever — I will lead him forth. 
Come, Clarence ; darling come ! 

Lord B. Who is this man 1 

Falk. The friend of Vyvyan, whose pale bones plead yonder. 

Lord B. I — I will go. Lst's steal away, my mother. 

Falk. Lost friend, in war, how oft thy word was " Spare." — 

Methmks I hear thee now. {draws Lord Beaufort to r. c.) 

Young lord, I came 
Into these halls, demanding blood for blood — 
But thy remorse (this is remorse) disarms me. 
Speak ; do but say — (look, I am young myself, 
And know how hot is youth ;) speak — do but say, 
After warm words, struck out from jealous frenzy, 
Quick swords were drawn: Man's open strife with man- 
Passion, not murder : Say this, and may law 
Pardon thee, as a soldier does ! 

Sir Grey {to Marsden). Call Eveline, 

She can attest our young lord's innocence. [Exit Marsden - . 

Falk. He will not speak, sir, let my charge proceed. 

Lady M. {aside). What e'er the truth — of that — of that hereafter, 
Now but remember, child, thy birth, thy name ; — 
Thy mother's heart, it beats beside thee — take 
Strength from its pulses. 

Lord B. Keep close, and for thy sake 

I will not cry — " 'Twas passion, yet still, murder ! " 

Sir Godf. {who has been conversing aside with Sir Grey). Then jealous 
love the motive 1 Likelier that 
Than Alton's wilder story. 

Enter Eveline and Marsden. 

Sweet young madam, 

Tf I be blunt, forgive me ; we are met 

On solemn matters which relate to one 

Who, it is said, was your betrothed : 
Evel. To Vyvyan ! 

Sir Godf. 'Tis also said, Lord Beaufort crossed his suit, 

And your betrother resented. 
Evel. No ! forgave. 

Sir G. Yes, when you feared some challenge from Lord Beaufort, 

Did Vyvyan not cast down his sword and say, 

" Both will be safe, for one will be unarmed 1 {great sensation 
through the hall.) 
Falkner and Sir Godfrey. Unarmed ! 
Evel. His very words I 



44 THE BIGHTFUL HEIR. 

Falk. Oh, vile assassin ! 

Sir Godf. Accuser, peace ! This is most grave. Lord Beaufort, 

Upon such tokens, with your own strange bearing, 

As ask appeal to more august tribunal, 

You stand accused of purposed felon murder 

On one named Vyvjan, Captain of the Dreadnought — 

" Wouldst thou say aught against this solemn charge? " 
Evel. Murdered ! — he — Vyvyan ! Thou his murderer, Clarence, 

In whose rash heat my hero loved frank valor 1 

Lo ! I, to whom his life is as the sun 

Is to the world — with my calm trust in Heaven 

Mantle thee thus. Now, speak ! 
Lady M. (aside). Be firm — deny, and live. 

Lord B. {attempting to be haughty). You call my bearing " strange 1 " 
— what marvel, sir 1 

Stunned by such charges, of a crime so dread. 

What proof against me 1 (Sir Grey meets Alton tip r. and 
keeps him in talk.) 
Lady M. Words deposed by whom 1 

A man unknown ; — a girl's vague fear of quarrel — 

His motive what 1 A jealous anger ! Phantoms ! 

Is not my son mine all! And yet this maid 

J plighted to another. Had I done so 

If loved by him, and at the risk of life 1 

Again, I ask all present what the motive 1 
Alton, (comes doivn with Sir Grey).* Rank, fortune, birthirght. 

Miserable woman ! 
Lady M. Whence com'st thou, pale accuser? 
Alton. From the dead ! 

Which of ye two will take the post I leave 1 

Which of ye two will draw aside that veil, 

Look on the bones behind, and cry, " I'm guiltless 1 " 

Hast thou conspired with him to slay thy first-born, 

Or knows he not that Vyvyan was his brother 1 (Lady Montre- 
ville swoons. Eveline rushes fe Lady Moktreville.j 
Lord B. My brother ! No, no, no ! {clutching hold of Sir Grey.) Kins- 
man, he lies ! 
Sir G. Alas! (r. front.) 
Lord B. Wake, mother wake. I ask not speech. 

Lift but thy brow — one flash of thy proud eye 

Would strike these liars dumb ! 
Alton. Read but those looks 

To learn that thou art 

Lord B. Cain ! {grasping Falkner). Out with thy sword — (l.) 

Hew off this hand. Thou calledst me " assassin ! " 

Too mild— say "fratricide ! " Cain, Cain, thy brother! (falls 
sobbing, c. front) 
Evel. It cannot be so ! No. Thou wondrous Mercy, 

That, from the pirate's knife, the funeral seas 

And all their shapes of death, didst save the lone one, 

To prove to earth how vainly man despairs 

While God is in the heavens— I cling to thee, 

As Faith unto its anchor ! {to Sir Grey) Back, false kinsman! 

I tell thee Vyvyan lives — the boy is guiltless ! 



*Evel. LadyM. Beauf. Alton. Sib Grey. Sir Godfrey. 

E - »• C. C. E. C. E. 



aci v. 45 

" Falk Poor, noble maid ! How ray heart bleeds for her ! " 
Lady M. {starting up). Sentence us both! or stay,— would law con- 
demn 
A child so young, if I had urged him to it 7 
Sir Godp. Unnatural mother, hush ! Sir Grey, to you, 
Perchance ere long, by lives too justly forfeit, 
Raised to this earldom, I entrust these— prisoners, {motions to 
Halberdiers, who advance to arrest Beaufort, ivho rises 
and Lady Montreville.) 
Mars. Oh, day of woe ! 
SlR G. Woe— yes ! Make way for us. {trumpet.) 

Enter Servant, d. in f. 

Seavant. My lord of Essex just hath passed the gates ; 
But an armed knight who rode beside the Earl, 
After brief question to the crowd without, 
Sprang from his steed, and forces here his way! {trumpet 
flourish.) 

Enter Vyvyan, in armor, his vizor three-parts dawn. 

Vyv. Forgiveness of all present ! 

Sir Godf. Who art thou 7 

Vyv. A soldier, knighted by the hand of Essex 
Upon the breach of Cadiz. 

Sir Godf. What thy business] 

Vyv. To speak the truth. Who is the man accused 
Of Vyvyan's murder'? 

Sir G. You behold him yonder. 

Vyv. 'Tis false. 

Sir G. (r. front). His own lips have confessed his crime. 

Vrv. {throwing down his gauntlet, to r.). This to the man whose crush- 
ing lie bows clown 
Upon the mother's bosom that young head ! 
Say you " confess'd! " Oh, tender, tender conscience! 
Vyvyan, rough sailor, galled him and provoked ; 
He raised his hand. To the sharp verge of the cliff 
Vyvyan recoiled, backed by an outstretched bough. 
The bough gave way — he fell, but not to perish ; 
Saved by a bush-grown ledge that broke his fall : 
Long stunned he lay ; when opening dizzy eyes, 
On a gray crag between him and the abyss 
He saw the face of an old pirate foe ; 
Saw the steel lifted, saw it flash and vanish, 
As a dark mass rushed thro' the moonlit air 
Dumb into deeps below — the indignant soil 
Had slid like glass beneath the murderer's feet, 
And his own death-spring whirled him to his doom. 
Then Vyvyan rose, and, crawling down the rock, 
Stood by the foe, who, stung to late remorse 
By hastening death, gasped forth a dread confession. 
The bones ye find are those of Murder's agent — 
Murder's arch-schemer — Who 7 Ho ! Grey De Malpas, 
Stand forth ! Thou art the man ! 

Sir Grey. Hemm'd round with toils, 



46 THE HIGHTFUL HEIE. 

Soul, crouch no more ! Base hireling, doff thy mask, 

And ray sword writes the lie upon thy front. 

By Beaufort's hand died Vyvyan — {draws sword.) 
Vyv. As the spell 

Shatters the sorcerer when his fiends desert him, 

Let thine own words bring doom upon thyself ! 

Now face the front on which to write the lie. (removes hemlet, 
taken aivay by Pages. Sir Grey drops his sword and staggers 
back into the arms of Marsden and Alton, r. front.) 
Evel. Thou liv'st, thou liv'st — (removes white from her cheeks and shoivs 

the color.) 
Vyv. (kneeling to her, c). Is life worth something still 1 
Sir Grey. Air, air — my staff — some chord seems broken here, (press- 
ing his heart.) 

Marsden, your lord shot his poor cousin's dog ; 

In the dog's grave — mark ! — bury the poor cousin, (sinks ex- 
hausted, and is borne oat, r. 2 e.) 
Vyv. Mine all on earth, if I may call thee mine. 
Evel. Thine, thine, thro' life, thro' death — one heart, one grave ! 

" I knew thou wouldst return, for I have lived 

In thee so utterly, thou couldst not die 

And I live still. — The dial needs the sun ; 

But love reflects the image of the loved, 

Tho' every beam be absent ! — Thine, all thine ! " 
Lady M. My place is forfeit on thy breast, not his. (pointing to 
Beaufort.) 

Clarence, embrace thy brother, and my first-born. 

His rights are clear — my love for thee suppressed them — 

He may forgive me yet — wilt thou ? 
Beau. Forgive thee ! 

Oh mother, what is rank to him who hath stood 

Banished from out the social pale of men, 

Bowed like a slave, and trembling as a felon ? 

Heaven gives me back mine ermine, innocence ; 

And my lost dignity of manhood, honor. 

I miss naught else. — Room there for me, my brother ! 
Vyv. Mother, come first ! — love is as large as heaven ! 

" Falk. But why so long 

Vyv. What ! could I face thee, friend, 

Or claim my bride, till I had won back honor 1 

The fleet had sailed — the foeman was defeated — 

And on the earth I laid me down to die. 

The prince of England's youth, frank-hearted Essex, 

Passed by But later I will tell you how 

Pity woke question ; soldier felt for soldier. 

Essex then, nobly envj-ing Drake's renown, 

Conceived a scheme, kept secret till our clarions, 

Startling the towers of Spain, told earth and time 

How England answers the invader. Clarence," 

Look brother — I have won the golden spurs of knighthood ! 

For worldly gifts, we'll share them — hush, my brother ; 

Love me, and thy gift is as large as mine. 

Fortune stints gold to some ; impartial Nature 

Shames her in proffering more than gold to all — . 

Joy in the sunshine, beauty on the earth, 

And love reflected in the glass of conscience; 

Are these so mean 1 Place grief and guilt beside them, 



ACT V. 



47 



« * 



Decked in a sultan's splendor, and compare ! 

The world's most royal he-itage is his 

Who most enjoys, most loves, and most forgives. 

All form picture. Music. 

***** 
Villagers, Servants. 



a * 

S Marsden. 

S * * 

< * Alton. 
W * * 



* « 



Sir Godfrey. 
Vyvyan. Lady M. * 

* Eveline. * Beaufort. 

* * 



CURTAIN {slow). 

EXPLANATION OF THE STAGE DIRECTIONS. 
The Actor is supposed to face the Audience. 

p. it. c. c. x>. r>. l. o. 



B. U. E. 



E. 3 K. 
S.SZ 



/ 



SCENE. 



\ 



7 



L.3 8. 



\ 



1-2 3. 



B.13. 



/ 



\ 



/ 



\ 



L. IB. 



t. d. c. x» <*. ^ 

AUDIENCE. 



& ' Left. 


0. 


Centre. 


Ja o. ., Left Centre. 


B. 


Right. 


I,. 1 E. Left First Entrance. 


It. IE. 


Right First Entrance. 


L. 2 E. Left Second Entranced 


R. 2 E. 


Right Second Entrance- 


l. 3 e. Left Third Entrance. ' 


P.. 3 E, 


Right Third Entrance. 


l. u. E. Left Upper Entrance 


B. V. E. 


Right Upper Entrance. 


(wherever this Scene may be.) 


P. B. C. 


Door Right Centre. 


v, l. c. Door Left Centre. ' 







48 THE EIGHTFUL HEIE. 

COSTUMES -Concluded. 

Servant. — Gray livery, turned up with orange. 

Sailors. -In Guernsey shirts, with belts supporting cutlasses and pistols; high 
boots ; jackets gathered in at the waist by sashes ; tights and shoes. 

Servants. — Like first servant. 

Clerk to Seymour. —In black. 

Halberdiers.— Steel caps ; back, breast and thigh plates ; boots ; halberds for 
them. 

Villagers.— As usual. 

Lady Montreville. — Fair-haired; make up after portraias of Queen Elizabeth ; 
if the ruff does not look becomingly, have a deep ruffled lace collar open in 
front ; jewelled stomacher ; bodice cut square at the bosom ; with lace let in ; 
velvet boly and skirt, with deep border jewelled cross to long necklace; ear- 
rings ; wedding-ring ; velvet band, with jewelled beading, on the head, just 
behind the front puffs of the hair. Act V.: Dark velvet skirt and body ; the 
bodice faced in the front with white lace, crossed with violet braid. 

Eveline.— Hair puffed in front, and in loose ringlets in a bunch at back of head ; 
string of pearls three times around the neck, ending in locket and cross ; blue 
body and skirt ; skirt opens in front and shows white under-skirt ; trimmed 
with gold cord. Act Y. : White satin dress ; face pale, with the white on the 
cheeks to come off and show color under, at a touch of hand dampened by a 
breath. 

Village Girls.— As usual. 

Waiting Women for Lady Montreville.— As usual. 



PROPERTIES, (See Scenery). 

Act I. —Scene I. : Spade ; coin for Vyvyan ; weapons for sailors. Scene II. : A hand- 
ful of flowers for Eveline to enter with, ready r. 1 e. ; cane for Malpas. 
Act II. — Scene 1. : Table and three chairs ; on table a two-handled silver goblet ; 
cups and plates of fruit for three. Scene II. : Four cannon in block carriages, 
not to be touched ; a cresset or beacon basket, at end of a rod, hung out from 
it. 1 E. ; sheet of printed paper, foolscap size. Act III— Scene I. : Staff ; roll 
of MSS. tied up, for Alton. Scene II. : Sword hilt in sheath, for Vyvvan to 
throw aside. Act IV.- Scene I. : MSS. roll, as in Act III., Scene I., for Vyv- 
yan to enter with, ready r. Scene II. : Profile miniature ship, to work from 
R. to l. u. e. line. Act V.— Scene I. : Canes, as before, for Malpas and Alton. 
Scene II, • Salver ; gold cup, jewelled ; letter, with sealed silk band, to be 
opened on stage ; handful of flowers for Eveline to enter with, ready r. 
Scene III. Table ; chairs ; quills, inkdishes, paper, books, on table ; halberds 
for Halberdiers. 



TIME OF PLAYING-TWO HOURS AND FORTY-FIVE MINUTES. 



NOTE, 
The few " cuts " are marked by enclosure between quotations, as " 



**»g 




'Zjtr t 



JS®^ These Plays will be sent to any address, postage paid, on rec< 
of price, Fifteen Cents each. Address, 

R, p. DE WITT, py B L.jsl|ER 5 

. No. 33 Rose Str< 



*, Cajte. Comedy. S ACfv By T. W. Robert- 
son. 5 Male, 3 Female Characters. 

2. Nobody's Child. Dramatic Play. 3 Acts. 

By Watts Phillips, Esq. 18 Male, 2 Female 
Characters. 

3. SIOO.OOO. »y JI. J. Byron, 8 Male, 4 Fe- 

male Characters. 

4. Dandelion's Ilodgct. Farce. 1 Act. By 

T. J. Williams. 4 Male. 2 Female Characters'. 
0. William Tell ! Willi a Vengeance. 

Burlesque. 2 Acts. By 11. J. By ion. 8 Male, 

2 Female Characters. 
C. SivJlunds.l-o. Farce. 1 Act. By Felix 

Dale. 2 Male. 1 Female Characters. 
'. Maud's I'ciil. Drama. 4 Acts. By Watts 

Phillip.. 6 Male, 3 Female Characters. 

8. Henrj' Dunbar. Drama. 4 Acts. By Tom 

Taylor. ID Male, 3 Female Charade: s. " 

9. A Fearful Tragedy in the Seven 

Dials. A Farcical Interlude. 1 Act. Uy 
Charles Selhv. 4 Male, 1 Female Characters. 

10. The Snapping Turtles ; or, Matrimonial 

Masquerading. Duolojcue. 1 Act. ByJohuB. 
Buckstone. 1 Male, 1 Female Characters. 

11. "Woodcock's Little Game. Comedy 

Farce. 2 Acts. By John Maddison Mortou. 
1 Male, 4 Female Characters. 

12. A Widow lSunt. Comedy. 3 Acts. (Al- 

tered from his own comedy of " Everybody's 
Friend.") >'y J. Stirling Coyne. 4 Male, 4 
Female Characters. 

13. Ruy Bias. Komantic Drama. 4 Acts. 

From the French of Victor Hugo. ]2Male, 
4 Female Characters. 

14. rVo Thoroughfare. Drama. 5 Acts ami 

a Prologue. By Charles Dickens and Wllkie 
Collins. 13 Male, 6 Female Characters. 

15. Milky White. Domestic Drama. 2 Acts. 

By H. T. Craven. 4 Male, 2 Female Characters. 

16. Dearer than Life. Serio-comic Drama. 2 

Acts. By Henry J. Byron. 6 Male, 5 Female 
Characters. 

17. liissd to a Fault. Comedy. 2 Acts. By 

William Bio Ugh. 6. Male, 4 Female Characters. 

18. If I had a Thousand a Year. Farce. 

1 Act. Bv John Maddison Morton. 4 Male, 3 
Female Characters. 

19. He's a Lunatic. Farce. 1 Act. By Felix 

Dale. 3 Male, 2 Female Characters. 

21). Daddy Gray. Serio-comic Drama. 3 Acts. 
By Andrew llalliday, 8 Male, 4 Female 
Characters. 

21. Play. Comedy. 4 Acts. By T. W. Robert- 
son. 7 Male. 3 Female Characters. 

VI. David Garrick. Comedy. 3 Acts. By 
T. W. Kobertson. 8 Male, 3 Female Charac- 
ters. 

23. The Petticoat Parliament. Extrava- 
ganza. 1 Act. By Mark Lemou. 15 Male, 24 
Female Characters. 

21. Cabman IVo. 93; or, Found in p. Four 
Wheeler. Farce. 1 Act. By T. J. Williams. 

2 Male, 2 Female Characters. 



The Broken-Hearted Club. Coined 

By J. Stirling Coyne. 4 Male, 8 Female ( 

acters. 
Society. Comedy. 3 Acts. By T. AV. 

ertson. 16 Male, 5 Female Characters. 
Time and Tide. Drama. 3 Acts and 

logue. By Henry Leslie. 7 Male, 5 F 

Charactei s. 
A Happy Pair. Comedietta. 1 Act 

S. Theyre Smith. 1 Male, 1 Female C 

ters. 
Turning the Tables. Farce. 1 A 

John Poole, Esq. 5 Male, 3 Female Char:, 
The Goose with the Golden Ej 

Farce. 1 Act. Bv Messrs. Mavhew an. 

wards. 5 Male 3 Female Characters. 
Taming a Tiger. Farce. 1 Act. 3 



Ch; 



<i[, 



The Little Rebel. Farce. 1 Act. 

J. Stirling Coyne. 4 Male, 3 Female Ch 

ters. 
One too Many for Him. Farce. 1 

By T. J. Williams. 2 Male, 3 Female ( 

acters. 
Larkin's Love Letters. Farce. 1 

By T. J. Williams. 3 Male. 2 Female Ch 

tevs. 
A Silent Woman. Farce. 1 Act. 

Taos, liailes Lacey. 2 Male, 1 Female Chi 

ters. 
Black Sheep. Drama. 3 Acts. By J. 

grave Simpson and Edmund Yates. 7* Ma 

Female Characters. 
A Silent Protecior. Farce. 1 Act. 

T. J. Williams. 3 Male, 2 Female Charac 
The Rightful Heir. Drama. 5 Acts. 

Lord Lytton. 10 Male, 2 Female Characti 
Master .Cones' Birthday. Farce. 1 

By John Maildison Morton. 4 Male, 2 Fei 

Charade: s. 
Atchi. Comedietta. 1 Act. By J. Madd 

Morton. 3 Male, 2 Female Characters. 
Beautiful Forever. Farce. 1 Act. 

Frederick Hay. 2 Male, 2 Female Charac 
Time and the Hour. Drama. 3 J 

By J. Palgrave Simpson and Felix Dale 

Male, 3 Female Characters. 
Sisterly Service. Comedietta. 1 

By J . P. Wooler. 7 Male, 2 Female Charac 
"War to the Einifc. Comedy. 3 Acts. 

Henry J. Byron. 5 Male, 4 Female Charaei 
Our Domestics. Comedy-Farce. 2 * 

Bv Frederick Ha v. 6 Male, 6 Female C 



46. Miriam's Crime. Drama. 3 Acts. 

H. T. Craven. 5 Male, 2 female Characte. 
•17. Easy Shaving. Farce. 1 Act. By I 

Buniand and Montague Williams. 5 Ma 

Pexialu Thai acters. 
48. Little Annie's Birthday. Farce. 

W. E. Sitter. 2 Male, 4 Female Characters 



De Witt's Acting Pkr 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




49. The Midnight Watch. Drama. 1 Act. 

Bv John M. Morton, fe> Male, 2 Female Char- 
acters. 

50. Xhe Porter's Knot. Serio-Comic Drama. 

2 Acts. By Joim Oxenlord. 8 Male, 2 Female 
Characters. 
:l A Model for a Wife. Faroe. 1 Act. By 
Allied Wixan. 3 Ma'e, 2 Female Characters. 

52. A. Cup of Tea. Comedietta. 1 Act. By 

Charles N hitter and J. Derley. 3 Male, 1 Fe- 
male Characters. 

53. Gertrude's .lliiiier-ttnx. Farce. 1 Act. 

By Harry Lemon. 1 Male, 2 Female Characters. 

54. The Young Collegian, Farce. 1 Act. 

By T. W. Kobertson. 3 Male, 2 Female Char- 
acter's. 

55. Catherine Howard; or, The Throne, the 

Tomb an.l the Scaffold. Historic Play. 3 Acts. 

By W. D. Miter. 12 Male, 5 Female Characters. 

5G. Two tJay Deceivers? or. Black, White 

and Gray. Farce, l Act. By T. W". Robert- 
son. 3 Male Characters. 

7. »oemie. Drama. 2 Acts. By T. W. Robert- 
son. -1 Male, 4 Female Characters. 

■i. Deborah (Leah); or, The Jewish Maiden's 
Wrons. Drama. 3 Acts. By Chas. Smith 
Choltnam. 7 Male, 6 Female Characters. 

.. The Post-Hoy. Drama. 2 Acts. By H. T. 

Craven. 5 Male, :i Female Characters. 
. The Hidden Hand; or, The Gray Lady of 
Porth Veimon. Drama. 4 Acts. By Tom 
Taylor. 5 Male, G Female Characters. 

61. Plot and Passion. Drama. 3 Acts. By 

Tom Taylor. 7 Male, 2 Female Characters. 

62. A Photographic Fix. Farce. 1 Act. By 

Frederick Hay. :; Male, 2 Female Charac- 
ters. 

63. Marriage at any Price. Farce. 1 Act. 

By .1. P. Wooler. 5 Male, 3 Female Charac- 
ters. 

64. A Household Fairy. A Domestic Sketch. 

1 Act. By Francis Tallourd. 1 Male, 1 Fe- 
male Characters. 

65. Checkmate. Comedy Farce. 2 Acts. By 

Andrew Halliday. 6 Male, 5 Female Charac- 
ters. 
6G. The Orange Girl. Drama, in a Prologue 
and 3 Acts. By Henry Leslie. IS Male, 4 Fe- 
male Characters. 

67. The Birth-place of Podgers. Farce. 

1 Act. By John Holiinjrahead. 7 Male, 3 Fe- 
male Characters. 

68. The Chevalier de St. George. Drama. 

:; Arts. ByT. \V. Robertson. 9 Male, 3 Fe- 
male Characters. 

69. Caught by the Cuff. Farce. 1 Act. By 

Frederick Hay. 4 Male, 1 Female Characters. 

70. The Bonnie Fish Wife. Farce. 1 Act. 

By Charles selby. 3 Male, 1 Female Characters. 

71. Doing for the Best. Domestic Drama. 2 

Acts. ByM. KaphinoLacy. 5 Male, 3 Female 
Characters. 

72. A Lame Excuse. Farce. 1 Act. By Fred- 

erick Hay. 4 Male, 2 Female Characters. 

73. Fettered. Drama. 3 Acts. By Watts Phil- 

lips. I L Male. 4 Female Characters. 

74. Ti»e Garrick Fever. Farce. 1 Act. By 

J. B. Blanche. 7 Male, 4 Female Characters. 

75. Adrienne. Drama. 3 Acts. By Heury Leslie. 

7 Male, 3 Female Characters. 
7U. Chops of the Channel. 

1 Act. II y Frederick Hay. 

Characters. 
77. The Boll of the Drum. 

By Thomas K^erton Wilks. 

Characters. 
7S. Special Performances. Farce. 1 Act. 

By Wilmot Harrison. 7 Male, 3 Female Char- 
acters. 
79. A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing. Domestic 

Drama. 1 Ac*. By Tom Taylor. 7 Male, 5 

Female CI, .traders. 



Nautical Farce. 
3 Male, 2 Female 



Drama. 8 Acts. 
8 Male, 4 Female 



No. 

so. A Charming Pair. Farce. 1 Act. By 
Thomas J. Williar..s. 4 Male, 3 Female Char- 
acters. 

SI. Vandyke Brown. Farce. 1 Act. By A. 
C. Troughton. 3 Male, 3 Female Characters. 

?2. Peep o' Day s or, Ravourneen Dheelish. 
{New Diury Lain- Version. I Irish Drama. 4 
Acts. By Edmund Falconer. 12 Male, 4 Fe- 
male Characters. 

"3. Thrice Married. Personation Piece. 1 
Act. By Howard Paul. ti Male, 1 Female- 
Characters. 

64. I\'ot Guilty. Drama. 4 Acts. By Watts 
Phillips. 10 Male, a Female Characters. 

85. Locked in with a Lady. Sketch from 
Lil'e. By H. K. Addison. 1 Male, 1 Female 
Characters, 

H6. The Lady of Lyons; or, Love and Pride. 
(The Fechter Version.) Play. 5 Acts. l!y 
Lord Lytton. 10 Male, 3 Female Characters. 

B7. Locked Out. Comic Scene. 1 Act. By 
Howard Paul. 1 Male, 1 Female Characters. 

88. Founded on Facts. Farce. 1 Act. Hy 

J. P. Wooler. 4 Male, 2 Female Character*- 

89. Aunt Charlotte's Maid. Fame. 1 At. 

By J. M. Morton. 3 Male, 3 Female Charac- 
ters. 

90. Only a Halfpenny. Farce. 1 Act. By 

John Oxenlord. 2 Male, 3 Female Characters. 

91. Walpolc; or, Every Man has his Price. 

Comedy in Rhyme. 3 Acts. By Lord Lyttoai. 
7 Mate. 2 Female Characters. 

92. My Wife's Out. Farce. 1 Act. Bv C. 

Herbert Rodwell. 2 Male, 3 Female Characters. 

93. The Area Belle. Farce. 1 Act. By Willian 

B rough and Andrew Halliday. 3 Male, 2 Fe 
male Characters. 

94. Our Clerks ; or. No. S Fis Tree Court Tent 

pie. Farce. 1 Act. 7 Male, 5 Female Char- 
acters. 

95. The Pretty Horse Breaker. Farce. 

1 Act. By William BroUgh and Andrew Halli- 
day. 3 Male, 10 Female Characters. 

96. Dearest Mamma. Comedietta. 1 Act. 

By Walter Gordon. 4 Male, 3 Female Charac- 
ters. 

97. Orange Blossoms. Comedietta. 1 Act. 

By J. P. Wooler. 3 Male, 3 Female Characters. 

98. Who is Who? or, All ill a Fog. Farce. 

1 Act. By Thomas J. Williams. 3 Male, 2 F- 
niale Characters. 

99. The Tifth Wheel. Comedv. 3 Acts. 10 

Main, 2 Female Cliaracters, 
1C0. Jack Long ; or. The Shot ill the Eye. Drama. 

2 Acts. By J. B. Johnstone. 5 Male, 1 Female 
Characters. 

101. Fernanc 1 ?. Drama. 3 Acts. By Viotorien 
Sardou. 11 Male, 10 Female Characters. 

102 Foiled. Drama. 4 Act*. Ey 0. W. Cornish.— 
b. Hale, •: F.ni ile Characters 

103. Faust and Hargucritte. Drama. 3 

Acts. I'.v V. W . Koijertson. 9 Male, 7 Female 
Characters. 

104. No Name. Drama. 4 Acts. By Wilkie Col- 

lins. 7 Male, 5 Female Characters 

105. Which Of til* TWO. Comedietta. 1 Act 

hy John M Morton. 2 Male, 10 Female t'haracter 8 
106 I'p for toe Cattle Show. Farce. lAct 
By Hairy Lemon. Male, 2 Female Characters 

107. Cupioard Love. Farce. 1 Act. By Fred- 

crick Hay 2 Male. 1 Female Characters 
10S. Mr. t'crogrr ins. Parce. 1 Act By William 
Hancock. 3 Male. :: I'e nale Characters 

108. Lock, d In. Comedietta. 1 Act. By J. P. 

Wooler. Is MaVc. 3 Female Characters 

110. Poppleton'n Predicaments. Tarce. 1 

Act. By Ch;.rle3 M . Kue. 3 Male, Female Char- 
acters 

111. The Liar. Comedy. 2 Acts. By Sam'IFoote. 

Altered and adapted by Charles Matthews. 7 Male 
and 2 Female Characters. 



